Woroni Edition Seven 2018

woroni VOL. 68, Issue 7. Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

PAGE FIVE

ANU BAR TO MAKE A COMEBACK? PAGE SEVEN

ANUSA'S CONSTITION EXPLAINED

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SOUNDS BEHIND THE LIGHTS NATHAN KERWOOD PAGE 13

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NATHAN KERWOOD

CATHY MCGRANEW

FEAR NOT

STORYBOOK GIRL

Vol. 68 , Issue 07 News comment 8

Meanwhile, in Canberra... no break from politicking in the long winter holiday Jasper Lindell 9

Ethereal Conversations Yuka Nagata 10

What Can the NUS Do for Us: the Importance of Engagement Nick Pagonis INTERNATIONAL 11

The Alternative Education of International Schools Brandon Tan 12

Why is Everyone Infatuated with 12 Thai Boys?

Ezra Yeng 12

What is happening along the US Border?

26

Because of Her, We Can! Braedyn Edwards

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS 42

27

Because of Her, We Can

The Impact of 'Fake News' on Today's Economy

Bobby Maher

Surbhi Arora

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Because of Her, We Can Krystal Hurst ARTS 30

On Tasmania Miriam Sadler 31

Too Far for Barr?

Tabitha Malet REVIEWS 32

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Annabel Horsburgh 33

Incredibles 2: A Monologue Alisha Nagle 33

We will honour the diversity of their stories.

Photo Story Storybook Girl Cathy McGrane 46

Luxury Clouds Drowning Emily Dickey 47

The Fisherman and the Syren Shae Maree Nicholson 47

Make Light Geoffrey Bonning

‘ETHEREAL’ - Features

Abigail Manning

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34

14

Miriam Sadler

Faith Over Time

UNI LIFE

Abigail Manning

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15

An Evening with Spirit Alisha Nagle

The Double-Edged Sword of Living Off-Campus

Sebastian Lawrence

Madeleine Sinnis

Multilingual

SCIENCE

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Charbel El-Khaissi 18

Unfair Game Asefeh Abedini 19

Negli occhi di chi guarda Melissa Nuhich NAIDOC WEEK PULL-OUT

Aether: Substance of the Cosmos and Breath of the Gods Ben Maclaren 39

Sophie Burgess ENVIRONMENT

Darcy Jackman 23

Hmalan Hunter-Xenie Hmalan Hunter-Xenie 24

Belonging Makayla-May Brinckley 25

Growing and Becoming Makayla-May Brinckley

Sebastian Rossi

38

Braedyn Edwards So If You're Aboriginal, Why Are You White?

Sudoku

Arabella Davey

Survival Tips that Could Save Your Life... as a Woman in STEM

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48

The Grant for Good: How ANU is Attracting Mathematical Science Students

21

NAIDOC Week Explained

Stephanie Beer and Millicent Roper

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In Limbo: Being New in Semester Two

A Troubled Night

Reasons Why Climate Change Isn't Real

Phoebe Lupton

Sounds Behind the Lights

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40

Saving Ugly Xavier Anderson 40

The Plastic Bag Ban: Can We Do More?

Cathy McGrane 41

Cultural Burning Xavier Anderson

We pay respects to Elders past, present and future.

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CREATIVE

sATIRE

Nathan Kerwood

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Woroni is written, edited and printed.

44

Felix Ryan

Ant-Man and the Wasp

In Defence of The Handmaid's Tale Season Two Finale

acknowledgement of country

We would also like to acknowledge that this land – which we benefit from occupying – was stolen, and that sovereignty was never ceded. Within this ongoing echo of colonialism we commit, as writers and editors, to amplify the voices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at our university.

The History of Economics: Products of Their Time

Riddhi Mehta

Fear Not

2

This paper is recyclable.

Protect the environment and recycle me after reading.

Want to contribute?

Send words to write@woroni.com.au and visuals to art@woroni.com.au.

Board of Editors Editor in Chief: Mia Jessurun Deputy EIC: Ben Lawrence Managing Editor: Jonathan Tjandra Content Editor: Alisha Nagle Radio Editor: Zoe Halstead TV Editor: William He Art Editor: Sophie Bear News Editor: Noah Yim

staff and Sub-Editors Financial Controller: Brendan Greenwood Distributor: Jasper Lindell Business Development: Sumedha Verma Marketing Sub-Editor: Daniel Schuler Social Media Sub-Editor: Brandon Tan Senior Sub-Editor: Miriam Sadler Senior Sub-Editor: Caroline Dry Comment: Ben Jefferson International: Riddhi Mehta Features: Abigail Manning Multilingual: Melissa Nuhich Arts: Tabitha Malet Reviews: Surbhi Arora Uni Life: Madeleine Sinnis Environment: Xavier Anderson Science: Erin Ronge Creative Writing: Phoebe Lupton Satire: Gene Pinter News: Aishwarya Taskar News: Caitland Coulson News: Dan Le Mesurier News: Jeffrey Wang News: Nick Richardson Station Manager: Steph David Executive Producer: Imogen Purcell Presenter Liason: Maddie Kibria Radio Technical Officer: Ben Donald-Wilson Music & Events: Albie Ryan Breakfast Producer: Sumithri Venketasubramanian Radio Producer: Patrick Bruce Radio Producer: Vikram Sondergaard Radio Producer: Maleika Twist Radio Producer: Gil Rickey Radio Producer: Claudia Weatherall Radio Producer: Jeremy Abdul-Karim Art & Design: David Liu Art & Design: Millie Wang Art & Design: Hannah Charny Art & Design: Clarence Lee Art & Design: Maddy McCusker Art & Design: Georgie Kamvissis Technical Manager: Bremer Sharp Executive Producer: Zachary Schofield TV Producer: Jasmine Ryan TV Producer: Nathalie Rosales-Cheng TV Producer: Ria Pflaum Video Editor: Cedalise Mariotti Video Editor: Aryanne Caminschi Video Editor: Savannah Benson Camera Operator: Derek Wu Camera Operator: Prakash Singh Camera Operator: Cathy McGrane

Contact Phone: (02) 6125 9574 Shop 14, Lena Karmel Building 26 Barry Drive, Acton 2601 Woroni is printed by Capital Fine Print Woroni is powered by....

Correct use of the semi-colon due to rigorous grammar edits.

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Woroni is written, edited and printed.

We pay respects to Elders past, present and future.

We would also like to acknowledge that this land – which we benefit from occupying – was stolen, and that sovereignty was never ceded. Within this ongoing echo of colonialism we commit, as writers and editors, to amplify the voices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at our university.

We will honour the diversity of their stories.

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

4

EDITOR'S WELCOME

From left to right: Sophie Bear, Art Editor; Benjamin Lawrence, Deputy EIC; Jonathan Tjandra, Managing Editor; Noah Yim, News Editor; William He, TV Editor; Alisha Nagle, Content Editor; Mia Jessurun, EIC; Zoe Halstead, Radio Editor

Text: Mia Jessurun Photo: William He Welcome to the first edition of Woroni for semester two. Our whole giant team of Woroni Wombats are so excited for you to be reading this.

So many students’ hard work, creativity and determination now and over Woroni’s history have come together to bring this to a news stand near you.

Woroni is so much more than just a newspaper - now, more than ever, it is a multi-platform, proudly independent student media organisation.

Woroni Radio, which started in 2012, is having a ripper year. In semester one, there were more than 60 shows, covering everything from sport to ASMR to satire to politics. Our beloved radio team played music and spread glitter at events, taught people to DJ and supported up-and-coming

Canberra podcasts. There is so much more to come in the coming weeks and months. Woroni TV is our newest platform, which started in 2017.

It’s only growing: we’ve just cobbled together our very own TV Studio, and can’t wait to fill your facebook feeds with more fun, serious, topical and timeless video content.

Print certainly isn’t dead – but, at the same time, Woroni is so much more than print. It is all the hours spent in

our messy-but-loveable office, editing, filming, recording, writing, making friends, napping, learning new skills and creating something new. There is a place for everyone and every interest at Woroni, and we would love to have you contribute. Whether its submitting your words or your art, starting a radio show, pitching an idea to Woroni TV or giving us a juicy news tip, we are always excited to welcome new wombats into this big, zany family. xxxx

Content Team from left to right: Miriam Sadler, Caroline Dry, Benjamin Jefferson, Riddhi Mehta, Abigail Manning, Melissa Nuhich, Tabitha Malet, Madeleine Sinnis, Erin Ronge, Xavier Anderson, Soumyadeep Sengupta, Phoebe Lupton, Gene Pinter

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

news

ANU MAKES APPLICATION TO BRING BACK ANU BAR

Text: Dan Le Mesurier and Noah Yim ANU has made a development application to the ACT government to repurpose ANU Commons into ANU Bar. ANU Bar, operated by the ANU Union, was a popular bar located in Union Court before its closure due to the Kambri redevelopment. While Molo Live has served many of the much-loved features of ANU Bar at the Pop-Up, including live music performances, it appears that the ANU Bar itself may be making a return. The university and the ANU Union are currently in negotiations regarding such an outcome.

Woroni understands that the entire premises of ANU Commons will become the new ANU Bar. This includes

the two courtyards to either side of it, which may be built upon. It will additionally feature “student facilities” and “several food outlets” in the foyer area.

The proposed business hours are from 12 noon until midnight from Monday to Saturday. Consultants anticipate that it will be able to fit 570 patrons in the main bar area and up to 1250 patrons in the entire area.

The key concerns which rise from this application are the impacts of this establishment on noise to surrounding areas, especially for residents in Lena Karmel Lodge, and parking conditions.

Because of this, the newly proposed ANU Bar will not have any amplified live performances. It will therefore be unable to continue its rich history of live musical

performances, which boasts acts such as Nirvana. Furthermore, GUZ BOX design + audio, the acoustic consultant for this proposal, claims to have performed sound modelling and believes that it will not exceed zone noise standards. There are further remodelling plans and equipment controls to minimise any noise disturbing nearby buildings.

No additional measures are being made to accomodate any new parking conditions, since the consultants believe that the proposed development would generate minimal further demand for parking. An approximate 1376 pre-existing parking spaces had been identified within 400 metres of the building.

ANU and ANU Union have been at odds in the past, with the two parties

facing each other in the ACT Supreme Court in July of last year. This came as a result of disputes regarding the Union Court redevelopment, particularly over the eviction of the Union and the demolition of the Union building.

In August 2017, ANU Union announced it had come to an agreement with the university, mentioning a “re-launch” of the Union in 2018. It is possible that this re-launch included the repurposing of ANU Commons to accommodate the Bar. ANU and ANU Union were contacted for comment, but respective spokespersons stated that they could not divulge any more information. w

WORONI SEMESTER TWO NEWS REPORTERS

Aishwarya Taskar

Nick Richardson

Jeffrey Weng

Dan Le Mesurier

Caitland Coulson

Aishwarya is a Management student from India. She wants to report important stories about ANU and is happy to be a Woroni wombat.

Nick is a third year International Relations student from Melbourne with a concerning news addiction.

Jeffrey is a second year LLB/ PPE student from Hong Kong and Auckland struggling to turn off his Sony α6300 camera.

Dan is a second year LLB/ PPE student from Melbourne - big fan of revolutions and accurate news coverage of said revolutions.

Originally hailing from Melbourne, first year Interational Relations/Arts (Latin American Studies & Spanish) student Caitland looks forward to bringing you news and the end of winter.

News

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RECAP OF ANU AND THE RAMSAY CENTRE FOR WESTERN CIVILISATION Text: Noah Yim

ANU’s Chancellor Gareth Evans and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt released a joint update on the reasons for ANU’s withdrawal from the negotiations with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation.

How did all this happen?

Earlier in 2018, ANU announced that it had entered negotiations with the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, an organisation set up with a large $3B endowment from the late Paul Ramsay. Individuals like Tony Abbott and John Howard are on the Ramsay Centre’s board.

The Ramsay Centre’s goal was to create a degree and scholarship that would teach students about Western Civilisation. It saw itself as the Australian equivalent of the Rhodes or Fulbright scholarships. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott wrote that it would rekindle a “sense that cultures might not all be equal and that truth might not be entirely relative”. He hoped that it would promote the “high culture of the West,” after modern Australian educational

curricula were “pervaded by Asian, indigenous and sustainability perspectives”.

This naturally drew great backlash from the student population at ANU. Students wrote articles criticising the nature of the Centre, and student associations sent letters of recommendation to the Chancelry.

The response did little however, as the University continued with the negotiations.

However, on 1 June, the Vice Chancellor unexpectedly announced that the University had withdrawn from the negotiations due to the Ramsay Centre’s requests to impinge on ANU’s academic autonomy.

This announcement instigated another backlash, but this time from mainstream media and conservative politicians.

Former Prime Minister John Howard, Chairman of the Board of the Ramsay Centre, returned a letter which called the withdrawal “intensely disappointing”. The Vice-Chancellor of the

Australian Catholic University, Professor Greg Craven, called the decision “gutless”. The Minister for Education, Simon Birmingham, blamed unions and student activists for spreading “fear and negativity” to shut down the proposed undergraduate degree and scholarship. Prime Minister Turnbull was reported to have been surprised at this decision, and found it “hard to understand”.

In response, Vice-Chancellor Schmidt was interviewed on the 7.30 Report on ABC about ANU’s decision to end negotiations regarding the Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation. The interview was largely a reiteration of Professor Schmidt’s op-ed in the Canberra Times which insisted that the only reason for the decision was due to the influence that the Ramsay Centre demanded.

He stated that it would undermine academic integrity. Professor Schmidt also stated in the interview that various criticisms such as those from the NTEU and ANU Student Associations did not factor into his decision to withdraw.

Professor Schmidt added that the Ramsay Centre was not totally out of question. Though negotiations had been cancelled, he said that he is “always

open to a renewed approach from anyone”.

Howard’s letter, however, stated that he “intended to release [their] correspondence”.

The Ramsay Centre’s negotiations now seem to have shifted over to Sydney University.

Some time after the political storm, the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor’s update elucidated the issue. Much of its content repeated previous explanations.

However, it did seem to expand on an issue that hadn’t received much coverage: the “provisional agreement” that Howard referred to in his letter. The update stated that the Ramsay Centre approached ANU with a draft Memorandum of Understanding that demanded an “extraordinarily prescriptive micro-management approach”. It went on to say that ANU was concerned about the short term funding the Ramsay Centre proposed, given that ANU would have to hire more staff and would be “held hostage” to the Ramsay Centre’s control and “effective veto [power]”. w

FIRST ANUSA ELECTIONS TICKET NEW ANU RESIDENTIAL HALL TO ANNOUNCED BE NAMED WRIGHT HALL

Graphic: Ben Lawrence Text: Noah Yim The first ticket for the upcoming ANUSA election was announced earlier in the winter break, on 24 June.

Only the executive nominees have been announced. They are as follows: Eden Lim, 2018 ANUSA General Secretary, running for President; Hannah Minns, 2018 Griffin Hall President, running for Vice President; Dashveen Jose, 2018 Fenner Treasurer, running for Treasurer; Lachy Day, 2018 ANUSA General Representative, running for General Secretary;

Matthew Mottola, 2018 Queer* Department Officer, running for Social Officer; and Tanika Sibal, 2018 Deputy Ethnocultural Officer, running for Education Officer.

The full ticket is expected to be released in the coming days. Woroni has been informed that the ticket will soon announce its policies, logos and name.

The ANUSA elections will be held in week four of semester two. Compared to previous years, this ticket has been announced quite early: last year, Shake Up ANUSA was the first ticket announced, on 2 July. w

Text: Jonathan Tjandra and Noah Yim ANU announced earlier on Thursday that its new residential hall is to be named Wright Hall. It is named after Joseph and Eleanor Wright, ancestors of Louise Tuckwell, who, with her husband Graham Tuckwell, are the sponsors of the Tuckwell Scholarship at ANU. Wright Hall is due to house 428 residents, with each student room having its own balcony. Its returns will be used to “fund in perpetuity the Tuckwell Scholarship”.

It will be located at the end of University Avenue with Bruce Hall. It will also

share an underground kitchen with Bruce Hall.

Wright Hall’s motto, “Tenacitas, Comitas, Gratia”, or “Get on with it, get on with each other and be grateful” was designed by staff of the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics in consultation with Louise Tuckwell and its logo was designed by the ANU School of Art and Design.

Wright Hall and Bruce Hall are due to be ready for purpose by start of semester one, 2019. w

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Text: Caitland Coulson

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

news

I READ THE ANUSA CONSTITUTION SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO

The Australian National University Students’ Association, or ANUSA as it is more commonly known, is the representative body for all undergraduate students at ANU and for those enrolled in an ANU Pathway Program. However, this membership excludes those enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicine and those who have formally requested not to be members.

If you are one of these students you are automatically an ANUSA member. This means that you can vote in the upcoming annual ANUSA elections in week four of this semester.

Structure ANUSA itself consists four main parts: the Executive, Departments, College Representatives and General Representatives.

The Executive consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, General Secretary, Social Officer and Education Officer.

The departments of the association are the Women’s Department, Queer* Department, Environment Department, Indigenous Department, International Students’ Department and Ethnocultural Department. Each of these departments has their own internally elected officer who represents them within ANUSA. Two elected representatives also represent each academic college within ANUSA. The exceptions to this are the College of Physical Sciences and the College of Medicine, Biology and Environment who share two representatives between them.

Representative Council (CRC), and General Meetings.

SRC The SRC is held each calendar month of the academic year, unless that month contains less than seven teaching days.

The executive, the department officers and the general representatives at a minimum are required to attend each meeting.

During these meetings the SRC may pass resolutions regarding ANUSA policy. This excludes any policy that relates to ANU or its colleges. Currently, any ANUSA member may attend these meetings.

CRC The CRC is also held each calendar month of the year that contains more than seven teaching days. During these meetings the council will consider issues relating to the academic colleges and make sure that the academic interests of their students are protected.

The College Representatives, President, Vice President, General Secretary and Education Officer will, at a minimum, be in attendance at these meetings. Any class or department representatives called on by the college representatives will also be in attendance at these meetings. As with SRC, any member is currently allowed to attend these meetings.

General Meetings

ANUSA also comprises of 14 General Representatives who will also be elected during the upcoming elections.

There are two main types of General Meetings: Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Ordinary General Meetings (OGMs).

Meetings

AGMs

The three central types of meetings held by ANUSA are the Student Representative Council (SRC), College

As their name suggests, AGMs are held once per academic year. They are held no later than six months after the end

of the financial year or as the ANUSA Constitution suggests the “Financial Rear”. These meetings largely focus on reviewing ANUSA’s financial business for the previous financial year.

OGMs OGMs are held at least once each teaching period, excluding the teaching period in which the AGM is held.

OGMs deal broadly with ANUSA policy and can pass two types of resolutions: those relating to ANUSA’s organisational aims and those that will direct the Executive as to how they should give effect to the association’s policies.

Student Clubs Council Separate from the SRC and CRC the Student Clubs Council supports, funds and governs student clubs.

This council consists of one delegate from each affiliated club and the Council Executive who are elected once a year. Additionally, a member of the ANUSA Executive and a member of the Postgraduate and Research Students' Association (PARSA) are supposed to be members of the Council Executive. Reports from the Council’s Chair are received by the SRC. Additional Committees ANUSA also contains additional committees to address education issues, disputes and financial review respectively.

Upcoming ANUSA Elections Once a year ANUSA holds elections for its Executive, College Representatives, National Union of Students (NUS) Delegates and General Representatives. This year those elections will take place during week four of semester two. The active members of the departments generally elect

department officers internally, independent of these elections.

Polling, using a preferential voting system, takes place online. Any ANUSA member is eligible to stand for and vote in these elections. The election is overseen by a Returning Officer to ensure strict adherence to the election regulations outlined in ANUSA’s constitution and regulations. These regulations exist to ensure a fair and equitable election occurs. For the past two years ANUSA’s Returning Officer has been University Chief Librarian, Roxanne Missingham.

Candidates are generally sorted into two groups: independent candidates and those affiliated with a registered ticket. Registered tickets may include independent groups or be affiliated with a political party.

In the lead up to the elections these candidates and their campaigners will canvass votes on campus. However, as in previous years there will be exclusion zones where canvassing will explicitly not be permitted. This year those zones are: The Pop Up Village, the ANUSA and PARSA Spaces, the Melville Hall Student Space, the Copland Precinct, the Tjabal Centre and the Chifley Library and its associated walkway.

It is also possible to opt out of the student elections. The Returning Officer will ensure that a lanyard or similarly recognisable “opt-out item” is available to students throughout the election process. Canvassers cannot approach students displaying the “optout item”.

As it stands, the 2018 ANUSA elections are expected to provide a robust opportunity for undergraduate students to make their voices heard by the association that represents them. w

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Meanwhile, in Canberra… no break from politicking in the long winter holiday Text: Jasper Lindell Graphic: David Liu Winter is Canberra’s greatest achievement. It’s quiet and crisp, and rather than the sound of talking points and news grabs, we are left in peace with the contemplative crunch of morning frost underfoot.

But while we locals turn our minds to preventing frostbite should our limbs prematurely protrude from a blanket in the morning, the business of politics carries on around the country.

Parliamentarians work their electorates, Sky News hunts for outrage and repetitive strain injury becomes a serious risk for junior ministers and members tasked with nodding at the back of press conferences. Meanwhile, the government of the day carries out the usual business of distraction and obfuscation. Except they’d call it narrative management.

With half the year already gone, there are a few narratives doing the rounds.

Depending on who you’re talking to, we’re headed for an election in September if the Super Saturday results are looking good. There are just as many people quick to rubbish such claims. Others are talking about the end of opposition leader Bill Shorten, smarting from a couple of policy backflips and some spectacularly mediocre polling. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull seems to be making quite the go out of a skating career – specialising in underperforming on thin ice. And,

of course, One Nation remains a self-destructive political concern.

For federal politics, then, it’s business as usual.

But in the sumptuous quiet of the long winter break, there’s plenty of time for subtler political manoeuvring.

Philip Gaetjens was poised to head off to be Australia’s ambassador to the OECD in Paris – quite the reward for years of service to Liberal treasurers Peter Costello and Scott Morrison as chief of staff. But when John Fraser announced he would be leaving the post of Treasury secretary on 31 July, Gaetjens was picked for the role.

Opposition leader Shorten isn’t happy.

“This fellow they’ve appointed to be in charge of Treasury has spent 13 years working for the Liberals and four years working for Treasury,” he said on Friday, 13 July. “The Liberals are addicted to stacking positions in the government with their mates, and I think this is undermining the reputation of Treasury.”

The Treasury secretary is ostensibly the government’s most senior economic advisor. And from 1 August, he’s got clear partisan credentials.

Is it possible for someone to be a high level public servant and leave their political past behind them? Absolutely. Does it still look off when you appoint your former chief of staff to a role that’s supposed to provide independent, non-partisan advice to government? It sure does.

The rationale is clear. If the public service is there to offer frank and fearless advice, make sure the advice you’re hearing is frankly the advice you’d give yourself.

Make sure everyone is singing from the same song sheet.

The feathers of the public service remain ruffled from when Tony Abbott fired three public service heads in 2013, and effectively showed another the door. One, as it happens, was a former chief of staff of Paul Keating’s. A political history isn’t a barrier to a public service career, but proximity is the issue. A cooling off period helps.

Treasury is where the task of preparing the Budget is carried out. Treasury modelling is key to policy debates and the potential impact on decisions with far-reaching effect is clear. To have someone who appears like a recent political operative in such a public service role is far from ideal – and suggests a government is in it for themselves rather than to govern representatively.

It’s not the first instance and probably won’t be the last. But it pays to be wary anytime government promotes one of its own.

***

A mid-year reminder: don’t believe everything that political columnists tell you.

In February, I wrote in this column: “By now we can only hope that Barnaby Joyce has slipped off into what passes here for ancient political history: a couple of weeks ago.”

It seems those hopes have been dashed, with the former deputy prime minister all set to open the Canberra Writer’s Festival in August. From the program: “He is both loved and loathed but never silent nor still.” They certainly got that right.

Joyce will be speaking about his new book Weatherboard and Iron, a Melbourne University Publishing tome, billed as an ode to the bush. The program tells us the former deputy prime minister will “discuss the big issues confronting Australia – and provide a rare insight into the controversies that have plagued his recent career.”

Given Joyce’s recent history, though, it’s a surprise that this event will take place at the National Press Club. Surely the Canberra Writer’s Festival is a perfect setting for some of Joyce’s trademark decentralisation?

As we start to defrost, politics will return from the fringes to the capital. The by-elections on Saturday will give us a sense of what to expect in the back half of 2018. Will One Nation make inroads into Longman in Queensland, buoyed by the voice of Mark Latham at the helm of robocalls? Will the Downer dynasty enter into another epoch in Mayo? Will Barnaby Joyce finally slip off into ancient political history?

Get set for warmer weather and more political heat. The year in politics certainly isn’t over yet.

Jasper Lindell is Woroni’s political columnist and a former news editor.

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

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Ethereal Conversations

Text: Yuka Nagata Graphic: David Liu Unexpected encounters can reinvigorate a love for your neighbour.

Humans are beautiful.

Perhaps many readers will disagree.

As the world becomes ever more media-saturated and we are increasingly confronted with images of gun violence, terrorist attacks and wars, some may believe that humans – contrary to Rousseau’s concept of the “noble savage” – are, in essence, flawed.

Okay, so maybe I should clarify my view. Humans are flawed, but the interwoven stories and marks each individual leaves on each other and their surroundings are mystical.

The holidays are a time for ref lection, where time slows for some.

Some of us travel, exploring different cultures; some just do things we don’t have time for during a busy semester. Some simply take time off, playing RuneScape and pausing from work.

For me, these holidays have been one of ref lection.

Last semester as a casual retail assistant, I served a man buying a present for his wife, to give to her at their wedding in Lake Macquarie.

Trying to prolong the conversation, I continued to chatter away and remark on how far Lake Macquarie is from Canberra.

“It wouldn’t be too bad if we didn’t have to drive through Sydney,” he replied solemnly.

I attempted to relate by commenting on how much I hate Sydney drivers and their impatience.

A small conversation sometimes has the power to open Pandora’s box.

served him once at Pandora if at all I linger in his memory.

I am transported to 20 years ago. The man is driving back from Sydney with his boss on an empty road. No car in sight save a lone police car. There is silence -- BANG. Car tumbles. Crashes.

But isn’t that beautiful? That, after all, is the bewitching oddity of human nature. We are all just the background characters to another’s story.

The man takes the police to court alleging that they had shot the car causing it to crash. However, the shot car is “lost”; consequently the judge rules in favour of the police due to a lack of evidence.

“All this time when the judge was talking about a lack of evidence… No one acknowledged the fact that a sixmonth-old had died in the back seat.”

I am brought out of my reverie back to the store.

I will probably never see the man again. And I will just be that girl who

So, this semester, whether you are a shy introvert or an outgoing extrovert, seek out the wondrous stories. For the first time, talk to that person at the reception of the gym who lets you in.

For the first time, talk to that person who you’ve seen around the college kitchen or in your tutorial. Because you may be surprised and delighted to find out that they are more than happy and want to share their hidden stories.

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What can the NUS do for us: The Importance of Engagement

a n orga nisation that represents their interests, it is vital that they engage with the organisation.

A simple way students can do this is voting in the ANUSA elections later this year for delegates to the NUS, and ensuring that those delegates are vocal in their support for issues that have an impact on the student experience.

In addition to this simple action, it is vital that students ensure that ANUSA continues to remain affiliated to the NUS. If the representatives that we as students

Text: Nick Pagonis Graphic: David Liu How engaging with the NUS can make it work for you.

Over the mid-year break the National Union of Students (NUS) hosted its education conference. This conference, unlike the notorious National Conference (Nat Con), which has a reputation for an inability to actually achieve an outcome for students, the education conference is designed to be an event that brings together students from all over Australian campuses to have a constructive discussion about education for students at universities: this was the theory. Over the course of the conference it became apparent that the priorities of the organisation often deviated from the presumed scope of what a student union is designed to achieve.

What was clear was that the NUS has significant potential to function as an organisation that actually helps students with what matters to them. A number of issues would be best dealt with at a

national level, a response to the National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities being at the top of that list of priorities.

When it comes to national issues that affect students the NUS has, to some extent, worked towards addressing them – but ultimately it has delivered underwhelming results. The NUS has instead often campaigned on a range of issues that it is not ideally placed to campaign on. The fundamental reality is that if the United Nations can’t effectively resolve the Israeli-Palestine dispute, the ability of the NUS to create widespread change in the Middle East is surely limited. There are multiple issues that exist that could explain these issues within the current organisational framework of the NUS that far more experienced writers then I have discussed, but the fundamental issue that is apparent to me is engagement with the organisation.

It would not surprise me if many reading this article had never heard of the NUS or if they have, they either don’t understand its role or associate it with political actions far removed from their interest.

If students want the NUS to function as

elect disaffiliate from this organisation then they remove any power ANU students have to effect positive change within the organisation. It is important to have a student union that organises nationally and can voice student issues on that scale and, like any union, its strength comes from its membership. Disaffiliating simply weakens our ability as students to ensure our interests are being upheld.

The sad reality is that if we as a student body were to give up on the NUS it would be the easier option. The problem with that is that we as students need to organise in order to protect our interests: giving up will remove our ability to do this. Students need to engage with the NUS in order to ensure that the NUS is an organisation that serves its members not its officials and further that organises around actual student issues.

11

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

comment// international

The Alternative Education of International schools

Text: Brandon Tan Graphic: David Liu The increasing establishment of international schools has become a growing trend within the Southeast Asian region.

While this could be attributed to the effects of globalisation or increasing job opportunities in the region, the growth has been largely due to an increased local demand. In Malaysia, for example, 80 per cent of the students in international schools now are locals, compared to a previous quota of 40 per cent established by the government.

International schools were originally meant as education centers for the children of expats and diplomats living far from home to ensure that they received an appropriate education. They have since become institutions offering an alternative curriculum. This might perhaps be due to the growing dissatisfaction with the local curriculum coupled with parents’ desire for their children to learn critical thinking skills and attain results from a more widely recognised program. Having experienced this firsthand, I too followed my parents’ whims

and transitioned from the local Malaysian curriculum to an international school curriculum, around the same time the Malaysian education policy was announced to be switching language mediums for teaching Mathematics and Science from English to Malay.

As a higher number of people are now going abroad for tertiary education, having an initial exposure to an international school background helps prepare students. The local curriculum and its subsequent qualifications, on the other hand, is often not recognised or held in lower regard to international school curriculums by tertiary education institutions abroad. Furthermore, the costs of studying at an international school are a somewhat suitable replacement of studying overseas yet remaining close to home.

The most popular study curricula in Southeast Asia are the International Baccalaureate and the British A-levels, although options like the American and Australian international schools do exist. For a large number of students, the difference in curriculum means learning much more interesting and diverse

content. History lessons in the local curriculum would be largely focused on detailed history of the country while an international curriculum enables students to learn about world history alongside the history of their own nation. Furthermore, taking up creative subjects such as sociology or drama were an option, as opposed to the near universal decree where everyone following the local syllabus had to focus on studying further mathematics and sciences. New concepts such as the celebration of international week and attending school trips were new traditions that demonstrated a greater amount of variety beyond the classroom.

That said, the transition is not as seamless as there are several things that one has to get used to. Along the way, you develop a kind of culture with the other international school students, which can be entirely different from the background you grew up from. I’ve met some Malaysians who were less than fluent in Malay or Mandarin, two languages used within the Malaysian community.

In fact, as my time within an international school increased, I myself felt became less articulate with speaking those

languages since there were fewer opportunities to practice it.

While it took me some time to adapt to the new culture, it being where I am during my most important teenage formative years has arguably shaped who I am today. International schools offer new opportunities that local schools are often unable to offer and cater to the needs of students looking for a curriculum that would put them on par with students around the world. Whether it was engaging in multiple new opportunities such as MUN or learning about other’s cultures, I’ve certainly learned a lot and have been incredibly privileged to have gone through this.

comment// international

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

12

What is happening along the US Border?

Text: Riddhi Mehta

US immigration policy has historically been complex. Its constant changes and abrupt additions have been partially responsible for heightened confusion surrounding what it actually entails.

Barack Obama did say in an address that, “We are a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of laws.” The Clinton and Obama administration, in their terms, had constantly brought attention to the “broken immigration system” They pushed for immigration laws under which undocumented immigrants would be stopped from crossing the border by increased force along the borders. The deportation of violent offenders would also be emphasised. The immigration policy in its essence has always been under scrutiny.

The Trump administration has picked up on this very same idea but increased the umbrella for immediate deportation to not only include violent offenders but anyone residing in the country illegally. Playing to the weaknesses of loyal Trump supporters, the administration has used it to their advantage, blaming undocumented immigrants for burdening the economic system and misusing taxpayers’ money.

The policy cannot be viewed independently, as it is part of a greater movement of economic nationalism and part of the process of putting America and Americans before anyone else. The current border policy is against the illegal entry of citizens outside the US because it has a massive impact on the economic system. There have been previous claims made that the US have reaped tremendous benefits from opening its doors

to immigrants. The argument against it highlights how it creates a gaping hole in the legal system, allowing respect for law to diminish while also bringing about serious security risks.

Trump’s deportation laws have been subject to scathing criticism by the left, and very often rightly so. While most of the media focuses on the immigration policy on the whole, the primary issue has been the problematic implementation of these laws without proper planning or foresight.

It is ripping apart families residing in the country and spreading a sense of dread in immigrant communities. Children of deported and detained parents suffer significant psychological, emotional, developmental and economic damage.

People in favor of this hardline immigration policy have often brought up how

families do not have to be broken up.

However, in the case of families crossing into US illegally, the adults are criminally prosecuted, and, in some cases, separation is inevitable. The separated children are then supposed to be sent to nearest relatives living in the US, but this is not always the case. The Department of Health and Human Services also admittedly lost track of around 1500 immigrant children and justified themselves by saying it was not their legal responsibility to track the children.

There are many reports on what is happening along the border, but it has become increasingly difficult to discern what is true and what is false. The massive divide between the right and the left has ensured that news reaching both sides tend to be skewed and facts are often subjective, complicating the situation even further.

Why is Everyone Infatuated with 12 Thai boys?

Text: Ezra Yeng Graphic: David Liu Disclaimer: I am in no way diminishing the efforts of the Navy SEALS, nor how fortunate and resilient these boys were in their rescue. This piece is not intended to be of any disrespect towards the lives and contributions of the individuals of this event.

It was 23 June when a group of teens ages 11 to 16 accompanied by their coach became trapped after undergoing an “initiation” which involved entering the Tham Luang cave system during monsoon season. Rapid rainfall resulted in

their entrapment and they were found approximately nine days afterwards. Using scuba equipment and draining efforts the boys and their coach all managed to escape after being trapped underground for 18 days. So these are the facts, but why did it reach almost global coverage?

The last event documented remotely towards this scale was the 2010 Copiapó mining incident where 33 miners were trapped underground for 69 days.

These were miners attempting to earn a living, voluntarily entering hazardous areas in hopes of a regular paycheck.

Their resilience in the face of near certain death was heroic and the mental

strength never wavered no matter how the months dragged on. Deservedly, they were commemorated via a movie capturing their harrowing ordeal, but can we say the same for the supposedly incidental entrapment of the Thai boys?

In my opinion what seems to have been commemorative in the case of the Chilean miners could be an exploitative capitalist move by movie producers to ride this globally covered event to the bank.

This incident might have been huge for the Thai government, but the immediate announcement by the Thai tourism board of their intention to create a museum to remember the events of the past few months is almost distasteful. This was

further followed up with a movie based on the ordeal of the boys. This mad rush to capitalise on every aspect of the rescue mission is borderline disrespectful.

The media definitely has a huge role to play in this capitalisation of the amount of importance given to this case because it was ultimately profitable. It seems like a cheap ploy to enable the exploitation of a remarkable event by those who seek views and wish to capitalise on events that they have no right to abuse.

13

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

prompted// features

Fear Not CONTENT WARNING: homophobia Text: Nathan Kerwood Graphic: David Liu A c om mon ph r a s e i n t he Bible i s “Fe a r not ”. T h i s i s e s p e c i a lly pre s ent i n t he go s p e l of Lu k e i n h i s t e l l i ng of t he n at i v it y. O f c ou r s e , fe a r i s nor m a l a nd it pro t e c t s u s f rom d a nger. I f a nge l s c a me dow n f rom t he s k y w h i le you were m i nd i ng you r ow n bu sine s s lo ok i ng a f t er you r s he e p to t e l l u s s ome k id w a s b or n i n a m a nger, t h at wou ld b e a pre t t y fe a r f u l e x p er ienc e for mo s t . Fe a r c a n bu i ld up over t i me t h rou g h e x p er ienc e s a nd p erc e pt ion s of a p er s on or a n or ga n i s at ion . T h i s fe a r c re at e s a w a l l to pro t e c t u s , to ens u re t h at we a re not hu r t by w h at we p erc e i ve a s d a ngerou s .

But w h at h app en s w hen we t a k e t ho s e a nge l s’ a d v ic e a nd “ fe a r not ” ?

I rememb er I w a s 11 ye a r s old w hen I went on tou r w it h my pr im a r y s c ho ol c hoi r to Br i s b a ne .

We were due to si ng at St Joh n’s C at he d r a l , a s t u n n i ng c hu rc h t h at hold s a f i ve s e c ond e c ho t h at ou r c hoi r love d . It w a s t here t h at I h a d t h i s s ud d en u r ge to at t end c hu rc h more re g u l a rly. I s t a r t e d pr ay i ng du r i ng t he re s t of t he tou r a nd up on re t u r n i ng home I a s k e d my mu m i f s he wou ld t a k e me dow n to ou r p a r i s h c hu rc h of St M a r ga re t ’s . Mu m s a id s he ’ d pre fer to s le e p i n a nd h ave a re l a x i ng Su nd ay mor n i ng , s o t he id e a w a s qu ic k ly br u s he d a sid e .

A s I got old er t hou g h , t he t ension b e t we en my s e x u a l it y a nd my l i m it e d f a it h b e c a me s o i nc re d ibly t i g ht it ne a rly sn app e d .

It to ok a long t i me for me to re conc i le t he p erc e i ve d c ont r a d ict ion b e t we en b e i ng gay a nd b e i ng a p er s on of f a it h . B e i ng f rom a non-re l i g iou s f a m i ly, t he on ly e x p o s u re to c hu rc h t e a c h i ngs r a nge d f rom s tor ie s of L GBT v i l i f ic at ion , homophobi a , a nd t r a n s phobi a , to t he id y l l ic ye t hu morou s s c ene s of ‘ t he Vica r of D ible y ’. To me t he c hu rc h b e c a me t he Au s t r a l i a n C h r i s t i a n L obby a nd t he i r att a c k s on m a rriage

e qu a l it y or S a fe S c ho ol s . It w a s t he We s t b oro B apt i s t C hu rc h w it h pl a c a rd s s ay i ng “G o d h at e s F **s!” T h i s le f t me a ng r y, c onf u s e d a nd f r u s t r at e d a s t here w a s a lw ay s a p a r t of me t h at w i s he d to he e d to t h at c a l l i ng I ’ d h a d at St Joh n’s , but t h at w a s i nc omp atible w it h b e i ng gay.

O n t he ot her sid e , I d id n’t k now a ny que er C h r i s t i a n s . D i s c u s sion s w it h que er f r iend s a b out re l i g ion were of t en f i l le d w it h c y n ic i sm . Tu r n s out w hen you p er s e c ut e p e ople for t he i r s e x ua l it y for t wo m i l len n i a you don’t a lw ay s h ave t he b e s t PR . My v ie w

of t he c hu rc h b e ga n to c h a nge to b e a n i n s t it ut ion t h at on ly s ou g ht p ower a nd c ont rol , not love , ju s t ic e a nd merc y.

It w a s on ly u nt i l I s aw c er t a i n c hu rc he s c a l l i ng for m a r r i a ge e qu a l it y du r i ng t he ple bi s c it e t h at I b e ga n to ga i n t he c ou r a ge to go to c hu rc h . I s t a r t e d goi ng to a c hu rc h w h i le on e xc h a nge t h at a fe w of my f r iend s at t end e d . I or i g i n a l ly u s e d t he e xc u s e t h at it w a s for re s e a rc h , a s I w a s t a k i ng a t he olog y e le c t i ve w h i le over s e a s . It w a sn’t t he e a sie s t t h i ng to do, I d id n’t k now i f t he y were a f f i r m i ng , nor d id I e ven k now how I ’ d e ven a s k t h at .

I h a d my f r iend s w it h me w ho k ne w my re s er v at ion s , but I fe lt l i k e I w a s c re e pi ng b a c k i nto t he c lo s e t a ga i n . My b oy f r iend w a s re fer re d to a s “p a r t ner ” w it h “ t he y s” a nd “ t hem s” i n ord er to avoid a ny i s s ue s . T he c hu rc h w a s we lc om i ng a nd t here w a s ne ver a ny homophobic s ent i ment i n s er mon s . But , t he fe a r t h at bu i ld s a rou nd c hu rc h a nd b e i ng gay i s h a rd to s h a k e of f, it s t ic k s to you a nd h a rd en s l i k e c ement .

I s t a r t e d lo ok i ng for re s ou rce s for

L GBT C h r i s t i a n s a nd s p e a k i ng to memb er s of a b e aut i f u l i nt ers e c t ion b e t we en f a it h a nd s e xu a l it y. To fe e l t he c om for t t h at you a re not a lone , t h at t here a re m a ny c hu rc he s a nd c ong re gat ion s t h at love you for w ho you a re a nd v a lue you r u n ique p ers p e c t i ve on t he world . T h i s c ert a i n ly w a sn’t w h at I h a d i m a gi ne d t he c hu rc h to b e .

Up on re t u r n i ng to C a nb er r a I fou nd a c hu rc h ne a r my ap a r tment . W h i le it i s s t e e p e d i n t he d e e p, a nc ient A ng lo - C at hol ic t r a d it ion s of wor s h ip, t he p a ri s h h a s s how n to b e a more i nc lu si ve , d i ver s e pl a c e t h a n one wou ld i m a g i ne . Q ue er p e ople a re on t he p a r i s h c ou nc i l a nd t he y p a r t a k e i n wor s h ip. T he pr ie s t w i l l a s k i f my p a r t ner a nd I h ave m a r r i a ge pl a n s a nd i f I c ou ld do a re a d i ng or t wo du r i ng m a s s .

I h ave f i n a l ly b e en a ble to le t t h at s e e d of f a it h g i ven to me a l l t ho s e ye a r s a go g row. T h at he a r t of s tone , h a rd ene d by t he h at re d a nd bi got r y of t he m i nor it y w a s re pl a c e d w it h a he a r t of f le s h . I no longer for t i f ie d my s e l f b e h i nd my w a l l bu i lt of fe a r a nd i n s t e a d d e c id e d to c ro s s t he t h re s hold .

O f c ou r s e , it ’s not e a s y, a nd t here a re t i me s t h at a re d i f f ic u lt , w here v ie w s a nd opi n ion s d i f fer.

But t he olog y, re l i g ion a nd f a it h wou ld n’t b e muc h f u n i f t here w a sn’t a n e lement of d i f f ic u lt y a nd c h a l lenge .

S o, i s fe a r s toppi ng you f rom t a k i ng s t e p s to w a l k t h rou g h t h at do or? Fe a r not . St a r t t h at c lu b or s o c ie t y. P ut you r h a nd up for e le c t ion . St a r t goi ng to C hu rc h , Temple , Mo s que or ot her. You ne ver k now w h at ’s goi ng to b e on t he ot her sid e of t h at do or.

Prompted// Features

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

14

Faith over time Text: Abigail Manning Graphic: Sophie Bear Six years old, first grade at an Anglican school, we prayed every morning.

Curious and eager to please, I loved school. I didn’t understand religion. My family weren’t churchgoers, so Christianity was just another class; something to learn, something where I could follow instructions, and something that I could try to excel in. Our teachers told us constant tales of God talking to them through coincidences and the feelings within their heart – and of course he did. I believed in magic and the fantasy lands of the books I was persistently reading – what was then unbelievable about a loving God that you never heard as an audible voice? I went through the motions, I prayed, I read the Bible, but it never sank in.

Ten years old, fifth grade, I refused to pray or participate.

It was a coincidence. There was a documentary playing on the television about climate change. The image of a polar bear trapped on a shrinking piece of ice captured my imagination. I cried for hours.

Days later in class I ask the teacher whether animals go to heaven, she hesitates, doesn’t answer the question, and eventually says no. Perhaps it was a subtle form of rebellion. From that time Christianity went from something I half-heartedly participated in without thinking much of it, to something I actively disliked and wanted to prove

wrong. It was little things, refusing to participate in Christian studies classes, scowling and rolling my eyes during compulsory Chapel services. It was petty, but at the time it felt important.

In grade seven I would make a friend who took a more aggressive stance on the subject. Finding contradictory Bible verses, muttering amongst ourselves during classes and chapels, quietly disparaging the religion and everyone around us who believed it. It felt like a kind of superiority, resisting the faith others had. Didn’t that make us stronger than them?

Sixteen years old, twelfth grade, confused and conflicted.

There came forth a peculiar kind of peer pressure. The majority of my classmates were in happy, enthusiastic ‘relationships with God’. The rebellious urges were now gone, who was I to judge the beliefs of my friends? I could abstain without actively trying to poke holes in other’s worldviews. But it’s insidious, the way we see happiness. I began to question: am I happy, when everyone else seems happy? Wouldn’t it be simpler to just be content and not constantly questioning and be confused about the nature of the world?

Instead of feeling somehow superior I felt like I was missing something. That there was some great secret I was supposed to have grasped, but it somehow slipped through my fingers. I remember a distinct unease as I started to think, surely all of these people can’t be wrong. I may have stopped judging

those who had faith, but I hadn’t ever been able to find that blind acceptance of all the hypocrisy and unpleasantness that I saw in the Bible. I cried after a chapel service one day, because I had begun to believe this must be the true way of the world, and it wasn’t a way I felt comfortable with at all.

Nineteen years old, second year of university. Free, and contented with not having the answers yet.

It was almost instantaneous, like a spell lifting, the moment I finished school and left that environment any compulsion to pursue Christianity finally evaporated. I felt free to research different kinds of spirituality with no pressure to commit to the one type of faith.

The false dichotomy, religious or atheist, suddenly seemed so unnecessary. I realised that the urge to find meaning in the world, to find some spiritual significance, can exist independently to the pressure of a prescribed religion. I can now look around me with a new vision and think seriously about what it was I believe, and come to terms with the fact that I don’t quite know yet. I know I believe that learning and understanding are always worthwhile goals, I don’t think I believe in an afterlife, but I also believe I could be wrong.

I can look at the world and think there must be something more than what I can perceive. But, I’m content to take my time finding out.

15

prompted// Features

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

An Evening with Spirit Text: Alisha Nagle Graphic: Sophie Bear I have always been afraid of ghosts. Most of my childhood anxieties waned and were replaced with those of the real world – public speaking, money, love, loneliness. Yet that fear of ghosts remained and thrived.

Upon contemplation I’ve realised that my fear isn’t of ghosts at all. They are merely a symptom of a far deeper and primal angst; one humanity has shared since the moment we became introspective creatures. It is fear of the ‘Unknown’. Ghosts are a reflection of our own mortality, and with this comes the most haunting of all questions: what happens when we die?

Here is an ‘Unknown’ that scientific advancement consistently fails to answer. It perplexes and humbles us. What’s the use of all these moments, the triumphs and tribulations of life’s journey, if we just die, forgotten and faded into the ether?

Religion has long sought to comfort us.

But two in three Australians now think religion does more harm than good. The amount of us identifying as ‘no religion’ has increased to 30% – up by 8% since 2011. With society’s faith at an all-time low, how is it that we are not driven mad by the hollowness that atheism ultimately offers?

A few months back I began asking my friends about their belief in the afterlife.

Many called me morbid, but the few who responded became uncharacteristically philosophical. I would think: here is a vulnerable soul – one that craves answers just as I do. Then one of my best friends invited me to watch a medium demonstration.

The prospect was unnerving. I’d never had the slightest urge to witness a séance.

My mind whirred with images of crones gathered by candlelight, ‘table tipping’, and charlatans performing magic tricks for cheap television. I didn’t like to believe in any of it. But my friend was encouraging. Real mediums, she explained, act as a link between the spirit world and ‘the physical’. I decided to investigate with an open mind. Perhaps this medium would prove my fear unwarranted.

They call it ‘Evidential Mediumship’: attempting to deliver messages from a specific person’s loved one with undeniable

integrity and detail. The event was hosted in a small community centre – our room could only seat about thirty. I felt conscious of being the youngest person there.

My friend said simply, “Most people put it out of their mind, that they’re going to die. Especially when you’re young.”

The medium we saw was Chris Drew, who travels the world provide solace for the grieving through his ability. His movements were animated, restless – even comical. There was nothing sinister about this man, nothing to verify the clichés I held. But I was still nervous. After all, I was potentially about to witness a miracle.

The first spirit was apparently connected to someone in the back row. “It’s my sister,” a man said curtly. I marvelled at the solemn poise in his voice, imagining how I would react if Chris was describing my dead relative. I grew shaken by Chris’ sensitive depiction of this unnamed woman.

As the night progressed I began to wonder why Spiritualism was not yet as popular as Christianity or Islam. Wasn’t this proof enough of life after death? No, there was still something wrong. He wasn’t always accurate. Often Chris made statements that audience members could not verify or disagreed with. When this happened Chris dismissed it, reverting back to more generic details like “half the town came to his funeral,” or “she had a wonderful personality.” This method encouraged my suspicion. It would be easy, I supposed, for someone to get so caught up in the ecstasy of communicating with a loved one that they would be prepared to overlook the finer details.

Then again, surely it must be difficult to interpret whatever messages the spirits give him. Maybe he only got shattered fragments of the spirit’s physical life and had to piece these together – and that would leave some margin for error. Since I’ve never experienced anything like it, who am I to claim he must be faking it?

We know that bees see colours no human can even imagine. We know that there are people who hear in colour, and children who possess extraordinary memory.

Here, maybe, was a man who could sense another realm of existence.

Chris’ passion for connecting spirits with the audience created an atmosphere that was entirely magnetic. When he was on the right track with a reading he would start jumping up and down like an excited kid, joking around. “Your grandma”, he

said, “she had chickens in her backyard, and she’d send them to heaven, wouldn’t she?” He’d recount idiosyncrasies in such a way that the entire room felt fondly the spirit’s presence.

“She had lovely skin,” he said of a woman’s dead mother. “That’s what I’m getting – people would always compliment her appearance as she grew older, she looked young for her age…”

“That’s right,” the woman said.

“I’m getting that because I can see… just touching her skin like this, in a mirror – she had this beautiful skin.”

There was a tiny tremor in the woman’s voice as she said, “yes, yes, I know why you’re seeing that…”

Chris’ emphasis on this intimate detail clearly meant a lot more to her than she was letting on.

After two hours the demonstration was over. Chris asked if anyone had questions.

One thing bothered me above all the unexplained phenomena I’d witnessed.

“Why is it that you don’t get their names?”

I sounded a little challenging, and immediately regretted speaking up.

“I do get names,” he said, “I just didn’t tonight.”

Chris told me that when he was first developing his ability, he’d asked his mentor my very same question.

“If you’re trying to connect with someone in the afterlife, they’re wanting to send you a lot of important messages, all at once. Their name isn’t one of them. They focus on their relationship with you.”

I nodded soberly, but it was not the answer I needed. Cynicism gnawed at my heart despite my best attempt to regard his miracles with unbiased eyes. I would never get the solid proof I wanted.

Regardless of my uncertainty, it was liberating to have taken a risk and dared to participate in something people might find too uncomfortable and confronting.

I walked out feeling at ease, uplifted and glad to have seen these strangers in the audience granted some relief and closure.

Chris had assured them their loved ones had not simply disappeared – that life is eternal. Seeking this assurance, whether through religion or a spiritual alternative, is the best thing we have to distract us from the Unknown.

As for me, I’m still afraid of ghosts.

Prompted// Features

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

16

Sounds behind the lights Text: Sebastian Lawrence Graphic: Sophie Bear In the grand scheme of a movie, the music can often be overlooked. You’re too invested in the characters, the story, and the visuals to consciously digest the music ever present in the background. Theoretically, this may stem from the concept for a silent movie, where the film is presented independently of any audio enhancements.

It forces a viewer to pay attention to what is foregrounded. So maybe, over time, we just became too accustomed to that visual focus. It is hard to pinpoint a specific point when it began to switch back. Perhaps it was the rise of Broadway and an emphasis on music and visuals coinciding? Maybe the releases of the largely-ignored but now uber-cult classic ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, or the mega-popular ‘Grease’ in the 70s? We could argue ad infinitum.

But, there’s two modern movies I want to focus on to prove the emotional connection to a movie and its characters that music can provide; 'Whiplash' and ‘Birdman’.

Maybe I’m cheating a little with ‘Whiplash’ since the movie is entirely based around music, but I think it perfectly portrays my point. In aA movie entirely based around jazz drummer Andrew (Miles Teller) and his incessant attempts to prove himself worthy to instructor Terence (J.K. Simmons), the use of music is obvious.

But the tracks prove themselves capable of carrying more tension and emotion

than the characters. Miles’ character slowly loses his mind trying to be perfect enough for the instructor, creating an air of uncertainty as the movie continues.

The music, and as a result the characters, begin to become more erratic. The finale ‘Caravan’ perfectly displays this. After ridding himself of the stresses of drumming, Andrew can’t stay away. He succumbs to his desires, belting out a nine-minute epic that never lets up. So, it’s at this point the viewer comes to a crossroad. Andrew finally achieved what he wanted, Terence is impressed, but, it’s at the cost of his sanity and any semblance of a life outside of music. His hands are bleeding heavily, yet, still he powers through, determined. The intricacies of the track begin to take hold, and you become entranced. Not with excitement, but fear. Fear of what Andrew has had to give up to achieve what he’s been striving for. It’s bittersweet, and as a viewer, the music choice finally begins to make sense. The combination of smooth tracks (‘Too Hip To Retire’) with impressive full-band performances (‘Overture’) shows the transition of Andrew from one moment to the next. It’s flawless, and as a consumer, it makes the characters all the more believable and relatable.

With ‘Birdman’, specifically in contrast to ‘Whiplash’, it’s all about what the soundtrack doesn’t say. The movie, filled with continuous shots and brilliant performances, would be nothing without a soundtrack to match the frantic pace of the movie. Starring Michael Keaton

as once-famous superhero actor Riggan Thomson, trying to break the mould created for him by breaking into Broadway, ‘Birdman’ relays the trials and tribulations as Thomson struggles to grab the attention of audiences without his past coming back to haunt him. However, the first fifteen tracks of the movie are entirely devoid of any instrumentals other than drums.

The pace is often stop-start and lacks focus. And immediately, it grabs the viewers’ attention because it’s so minimal. A stray pattern here, a light symbol touch there: it’s all carefully tailored to the pace of the movie. It coincides with Thomson’s struggle to stay focused as his ‘Birdman’ character attempts to take hold once more.

As a viewer, it’s an engaging masterpiece that uses music to its full effect: scenes are tense and unfocused, complimented by the sporadic drum lines, before the symphonic back-end of the movie results in an enthralling and surprising final act. It’s all put together beautifully, and it shows.

It’s this intangible, yet vital, effect on the viewer that exemplifies the role of music in the cinema. Music plays the part of storyteller and mediator without any effort, proving its worth in providing an extra layer of emotion to an already-stacked movie experience. The fact it can work in both the foreground (‘Whiplash’) and in the background (‘Birdman’) proves its capabilities, and continually allows already-fantastic works to become that little bit more.

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Prompted// multilingual

‫الليلة املضطربة‬

A TROUBLED NIGHT Written and translated by: Charbel El-Khaissi Graphic: Sophie Bear

ٌ ‫ِياح ِض‬ .‫كنت جالس عىل س ْق ف شقتي وشْ اهدتُ حركة العلم ف ْو َق بُ ْرج ساع ٍة بجانب بنايتي‬ ُ .‫عاف وبار ٌد ت ْح َت قمييص و َخ َد َر لهمي ببطء‬ ٌ ‫انْ َزلَ َق ر‬ Cold, weak winds slid beneath my shirt and slowly numbed my skin. I was sitting on the roof of my apartment and watching the movement of a flag atop a clocktower beside my building.

.ْ‫م ْن َه ذَا اال ْرت َف ا ْع شاهدتُ َع َد ْد م ْن م ْدخنة البيت ايض اً ولك ْن كان سيكاريت الوحيدة التي ن َف ث َْت َدخَّان‬

From this vantage, a number of house chimneys could also be seen, but my cigarette alone was the emitter of smoke.

.‫مح رتقة‬ ْ ٍ ‫انْ تَ َق ُل عيني اىل غُروب الشمس املشْ هدي الذي شعلت املدينة يف األفُق و َخ ل َ​َق َو ُه م مدينة‬.

My eyes moved to the scenic sunset, which inflamed the city in the horizon and created an illusory image of a burning burgh.

.‫يأيت طائرة يف رؤيتي وت ْز َع ُج مح ّركتها سالم املساء‬ .‫طرت الطائرة اىل غُروب الشمس يف األفُق كأنها كان وعدت لركابها الضوء األزيل‬ Forthcame an aeroplane into this scope of vision, with its engines irritating the peace of the night. It flew towards the sun in the horizon as if promising its passengers the eternal light.

.‫عت من ّدخاين او حتى من اشعة الشمس األخ ري‬ ُ ‫كنت بكيت او إذا د ّم‬ ُ ‫ْت إذا‬ ُ ‫يف هذه اللحظة اشعرت بالدموع عىل وجهي لكن ما عرف‬

In this moment, a tear formed upon my face, but I knew not if it was because I was crying or whether they were singed

.ً ‫كام ي ْخ تَ في الشمس رويدا رويدا ييضء بنايات املدينة بدرجة أكرث حتى الشمس يختفي كل�ي اًِ وأخذ القمرة مركز السامء أخ را‬ Slowly the sun dimmed and slowly the building lights illuminated, until finally the sun disappeared completely and the moon took centre stage of the night sky.

.‫اتعش هذه الليلة‬ ّ ‫ كان وقت للعشاء ولكن ل ْن‬.‫وصل رائحة الذات املقلية ألنفي من مطبخ غري معروفة‬

A scent of burning oil reached my nose from an unknown kitchen. It was dinner time, but I would not eat tonight.

Prompted// multilingual

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Unfair Game Written and translated by: Asefeh Abedini Graphic: Sophie Bear

Who can you trust in this unfair game?

Would you ever forget what happened to them?

When everything is crystal clear, to which light you will leave your soul to be salvaged?

What do you replace the caged birds with

Whom will you search for when a bird’s neck is pressed between their harsh fingers?

When will your heart’s limbo end the doubt between being alive and living the life while they are planting the lies in your blood?

Leave the beautiful eyes of the deer in your mountains behind,

You look with your eyes full of worry to prove that we can?

Alas, we might have been able to, but not anymore….

There is no way left anymore, Take yourself and go…

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

prompted// multilingual

Negli Occhi di Chi Guarda In the Eye of the Beholder

Written and translated by: Melissa Nuhich Graphic: Mia Jessurun Ognuno ha un posto felice. Da qualche parte dove il mondo intero si ferma per loro ma non finisce. Il mondo non finisce mai quando sei felice così.

Everyone has a happy place. Somewhere where the entire world stops for them but doesn’t end. The world never ends when you’re happy like that.

Ci penso spesso: il modo in cui il vento soffiava i nostri capelli sui nostri volti rosei, mentre ridevamo e ci tenevamo l'uno a l'altro, felici e liberi. Le onde si scatenavano sulle rocce giù in fondo, mentre i pittoreschi edifici di color pastello scintillavano alla luce del sole pomeridiano. Sembrava che loro ombre corressero sull'altro lato del faro, sotto il quale eravamo rannicchiati.

Non ci rendevamo conto del tempo; per noi era privo di significato, poiché tutto ciò che importava era il momento presente.

I think about it often: the way the wind blew our hair across our rosy faces, as

we laughed and held onto each other, happy and free. The waves crashed onto the rocks far below, while the picturesque pastel buildings twinkled in the afternoon sunlight, their shadows looked as though they were running across the other side of the lighthouse, under which we were huddled. We knew not of time; it was meaningless to us, as all that mattered was the present moment.

Non importava nemmeno che apparenza avevamo, o chi eravamo. I nostri dintorni ci hanno dato una nuova identità, una nuova esistenza alla quale aspirare. Mentre guardavamo il sentiero che ci portava al faro, eravamo sicuri di essere stati colpiti da una forza soprannaturale. L'impeccabile conservazione della natura, isolata da ogni interferenza esterna, ha creato l'illusione di entrare nel giardino di una fata. Abbiamo involontariamente giocato a nascondino tra rocce e cespugli, limoni e aranci che crescevano ai lati del sentiero.

It didn’t even matter what we looked like, or who we were. Our surroundings

gave us a new identity, a new existence to strive for. As we looked upon the trail leading up to the lighthouse, we were sure we had been struck by some supernatural force. The impeccable preservation of nature, secluded from all outside interference, created the illusion of stepping into a fairy’s garden. We unintentionally played hide and seek among the rocks and bushes, lemon and orange trees growing on the sides of the trail.

Un cimitero pulito dipinto tutto di bianco accanto a un'antica chiesa del XII secolo. Un hotel di lusso a cinque stelle. Un piccolo vigneto. Non c'era modo di dire cosa avremmo incontrato in seguito! Per tutto il tempo, avevamo voluto di fuggire dalla nostra ‘bolla’ cittadina e ci siamo finalmente riusciti.

A neat cemetery painted all in white next to the site of an ancient 12th century church. A five-star luxury hotel.

A small vineyard. There was no telling what we would run into next! All the while, we had wanted to escape our city bubble and we had finally succeeded.

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Does NAIDOC Week come around every year and you think, “What actually is NAIDOC Week?” then keep reading for a quick explainer. It’s an important week in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples because it provides a time when we can highlight our mob’s contribution to this country.

NAIDOC stands for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. However, it really has become a word with its own meaning For example, Aunty Anne Martin, the ANU Tjabal Centre Director, has been Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee for the past several years. It’s also no longer just a day – it’s a week-long celebration.

NAIDOC began as a rights movement in the 1930s, with people marching to recognised January 26 as the Day of Mourning. Over time, the second Sunday in July became known as a day of remembrance for Aboriginal peoples and their heritage. This has obviously evolved to become a week-long celebration traditionally held from the first Sunday to the second Sunday in July.

Each year, the National NAIDOC Committee picks a theme of NAIDOC Week. For example, in the past we’ve see``he lines of treaty, our children, land rights and more. This year’s theme is Because of Her, We Can! It celebrates and acknowledges the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women make to our society.

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

My great grandfather was born at Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls, operated by the New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board, in the early 1900s. As a boy, he spent his childhood moving from family to family; he was what was referred to back then as a “half-caste” child and was removed from his family as part of the Australian government’s policy of assimilation. Uneducated and poor, he spent his life working low-paying jobs and raising seven children, none of whom completed a primary education. My great grandfather spent his entire life denying his identity as an Indigenous man. His Aboriginality was a mark of shame.

On school photo day in Year 8, my Dad told me to make sure I went to have my photo taken with the other Indigenous girls at school. I went to the Indigenous student photo that day without thinking twice. I was so proud of my Aboriginal heritage. The next day at school, I heard whispers on the playground. There was a rumour going around that I was only identifying as Aboriginal because my family was poor and I needed a scholarship. I was so hurt; I wasn’t on a scholarship, and I knew how hard my parents worked to send me to such a good school. I was never in another Indigenous student photo.

Unfortunately, my experience in Year eight was not the last time I experienced such ignorance. Too often I am asked what percentage I am. Told that I’m not Aboriginal enough. Told that I only tick the box to get benefits. At the root of questions and comments like these lies a lack of understanding about Indigenous culture and identity.

I urge all non-Indigenous Australians to reflect on their ideas of what it means to be Indigenous. Are these ideas informed by a narrative of negativity, deficiency and disempowerment? Does your perception of Aboriginal culture account for past racial discrimination which has robbed my family and many others of language and culture?

I am incredibly proud of my Wiradjuri heritage. Despite the fact I am fair-skinned, blonde-haired and blueeyed, it’s part of who I am. Fair skinned Aboriginal people do not reflect a ‘“lack” of Aboriginality, rather, a reflection of the racist policies that mar our country’s history. My great grandfather spent his life denying his identity as an Aboriginal man, and I won’t do the same.

My name is Hmalan and I have been an executive member of the ANUSA Indigenous Department since 2016. These last two years I have been Treasurer. It’s a great role because within the Department I can assist with the financials when we run events at ANU that celebrate all things to do with Australia’s First Peoples.

I am Aboriginal and Melanesian – my mum's family is Tiwi/Iwaidja and Kaytej/Warlpiri descent from the Northern Territory (NT), and my papa's family is Drehu from Lifou Island in New Caledonia. I am a third year undergraduate studying science at the Fenner School. I have spent a lot of time in remote areas in northern Australia (mainly the Tiwi Islands and West Arnhem Land) and New Caledonia.

My family and those I work with in Aboriginal communities of the NT specifically told me to not forget them or where I am from when away in Canberra. To help remind me of this I have a selection of things (gifted or purchased) I keep in my dorm room. These include jewellery, weavings and carvings (see photo).

Visiting and buying products from community art centres is a great way to support Indigenous livelihoods on Country. Many even have an online presence if you are unable to physically visit. Check out ANKAAA for more info http://ankaaa.org.au/art-centre.

(Artwork on page 28)

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

Belonging I am not of the sea or ocean, But the water calls me nevertheless.

I am not of the water, Erratic enough without the pull of the wave.

The wide open water Instills a sense of fear, not belonging.

But yet, the smells of the sand and salts Entice me.

I am of the dust, The bush and the shrubs.

The auburn and the olive greens; browns at my feet.

Trees looming overhead, Calling me to be something I cannot be.

Asking me to know That dust becomes mud, And mud traps my feet.

I am of the dust, And I know she means well.

Her hardness coming from her love, Her trust That I know too, That mud becomes hard, And can be wiped from my skin.

My Ancestors are in the sky, Their wispy blues and calming lights.

I am not of the sky, But I pray that soon, I will be.

Makayla-May Brinckley Wiradjuri woman June 2018

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Growing & Becoming I think I could reach as far as the trees, Taller and taller than those in the dirt at my feet.

Breathe me in, Let me be part of your story.

She takes me in, a caring mother to more than what she is bound to by nature.

Encompasses me, So her bark scratches my skin And it tears, and I watch my blood give birth to new life.

I become whole again.

She teaches me to be everflowing with the wind.

To let go to the changes that the seasons bring.

The more I learn, The stronger I become.

Branches, reaching out For more knowledge that awaits.

My story is becoming louder, My voice is no longer wavering.

Hear me say: I am Wiradjuri, borne from the earth, And I know my story.

Makayla-May Brinckley Wiradjuri woman March 2018

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all though times have changed, your story remains. Because of you I am here…..thank-you.

Bobby is a Yamaji woman undertaking a Master in Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. She is motivated to contribute to social change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including gender inequality and racism.

As Aunty Pat Anderson said in her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National NAIDOC Awards: “this is so long overdue.” While she may have been referring to herself being recognised after working in Indigenous Affairs for well over 50 years, this sentiment is equally applicable to this year’s theme.

I know that women in our communities have been working for centuries to advance the rights of our mob in our own country. I also know they are some of the most dedicated, passionate and powerful people who will ever walk this earth. Our women are also persistent and patient beyond compare.

Though there are so many incredible women we could talk about during our ANU NAIDOC Week celebrations – whether they be the many women who won awards at the NAIDOC Awards, or our own family members – this week I want to pay tribute to a particular woman who is an inspiration to me: Aunty Anne.

I first met Aunty Anne at ANU Open Day in 2013 and after speaking to her about the opportunities ANU presented and the support the Tjabal Centre provided, I was sold: I had to come to ANU. Her humour, demeanour and knowledge of the higher education system, along with her belief that with the right guidance, I could do anything I set my mind to, was reassuring.

Aunty Anne isn’t just the Director of the Tjabal Centre. She also holds roles on boards and committees in other organisations throughout Australia. But most importantly, she’s become a part of my family. I cannot even begin to explain how much I appreciate her encouragement, advice and yes, her shoulder to cry on, on occasion.

I know Aunty Anne works tirelessly to make sure our university experience is nothing short of incredible and I think I speak for all Indigenous students at ANU when I say we would not be in the position we are in without her.

So thank you Aunty Anne. For all that you’ve done, for all that you do… It’s because of you, we can.

CONTENT WARNING: stolen generations, institutional betrayal

A reflective piece dedicated to my grandmother Lilly, who I never physically knew, but whose spirit is with me.

Lilly, your spirit entered this world when your mother gave birth to you. She nurtured you as you drank the milk from her breast, she guided you for the first three years of your life and provided a safe space for you to grow. Imagine, as a 3 year old girl, that your world as you knew it, was to be ripped away. Taken from your mother, the one who birthed your spirit into the world, because of the colour of your skin and what you represented within the Australian society at that time.

The life that you were to endure for the rest of your living life became known as the biggest disgrace that this country, Australia, has contributed to. I entered the world shortly after you left it. I am left to only wonder what parts of you are within me. I wonder what it would be like to have discussions about social justice and human rights within the context of our people.

I wonder what your thoughts are on improving the gender inequality in this country, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. I wonder what advice your wise self would give to me as I blossom into the woman I am today. There is so much wonder……and

My inspiration for this artwork is our mothers – mother earth, our ancestors, grandmothers, aunties and sisters. All the women who are important to us and who have made an impact in our lives and for our communities towards social justice.

When I think of this year’s NAIDOC theme, Because of Her, We Can, I think of the strength, resilience and compassion of our women who have nurtured us and the land. In the background I wanted to represent the sun as the core of the woman, as the sun (Dhunni) is the woman spirit, who gives life and strength.

The woman is represented as a tree because when I think of women I think of trees – so like trees, the strength of the tree keeps us standing tall; our roots keep us grounded with respect and knowledge; and our branches are families reaching out in embrace, breathing life as we continue to grow.

(Artwork on page 27)

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Artwork: Krystal Hurst

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

Artwork: Hmalan Hunter-Xenie

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Culture// Arts

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On Tasmania Text: Miriam Sadler Graphic: Noah Yim

From 13-24 June, Hobart’s waterfront was lit up, or for some, desecrated, by a number of large neon inverted crosses.

The stunt was a part of Tasmania’s annual mid-winter Dark Mofo festival, which features headline musical acts and large art installations.

Hosted by the privately funded Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) located in Hobart, the festival is centered on pagan and gothic influences and thrives on the weird and wonderful of the art world. It also thrives on controversy. This year, many argued, MONA owner David Walsh and Dark Mofo curator Leigh Carmichael took it one step further with their crosses. People were offended.

Grandmothers were offended, Christian groups were offended, people wrote in swathes to The Mercury to express their anger. Even the Mayor of Hobart Ron Christie weighed in, questioning the continuation of City Council funding for Dark Mofo.

A change.org petition calling on Christie to take down the crosses reached nearly 20,000 signatures.

This isn’t the first time Dark Mofo, or indeed MONA, have courted controversy. From its birth in 2011, the museum has run into criticism over everything from its The Great Wall of Vagina to the Cloaca Professional, which simulates the stages of digestion culminating in professionally made faeces (complete with realistic poo smell). Dark Mofo, which began in 2013, and started off as little more than a light display, has become one of Tassie’s enduring divisive issues. Last year, anger erupted over Hermann Nitsch’s 150.Action, a performance using the meat and entrails of a slaughtered bull. The annual nude solstice swim was nearly cancelled in its first year, but now sees record numbers of brave naked Tasmanians running into the freezing depths of the Derwent River.

The criticism thrown time and time again at MONA and Dark Mofo is that it’s offensive for the sake of it. That it

isn’t really art. And the recent criticism in Tasmanian media suggest some think it has no value for the state.

try the most inventive coffee, and stuff your face with gourmet cheese and meat.

The state is exploding with tourism.

In considering Dark Mofo’s place in Tasmania, one first needs to look back on the development of the state. Incest jokes and the infamous question ‘where’s your scar? (implying surgery to remove a second head) mask a very real lack of understanding of Tasmanian culture.

The state was, until recently, a very conservative one. Until 1997, Tasmania had the harshest punishments for LGBT+ activity in Australia. It had limited diversity. It was set in its ways, and a smalltown vibe dominated. When I moved to Tasmania from one of England’s most diverse cities in 2011, I found a state

No one thing has changed Tasmania’s landscape as much as MONA and Dark Mofo, as well as the summer Mofo event.

Controversy aside, MONA and its festivals have forced Tasmania on to the cultural scene. Mona has got mainland Australia talking and, crucially, is a hotspot on any tourist’s itinerary.

Dark Mofo persuades visitors to cross the Bass Strait not only for big names like St. Vincent, Zhu and Antony and the Johnsons, but for the whole package. Dark Mofo has a distinct feel, a flavour. Come dusk, Hobart is lit up in an eerie red.

The city feels a little bit alive and a little bit dangerous. People descend on the waterfront to seek out the large light installations in unprepossessing warehouses, stand around open fires and splurge on Tassie’s home-grown food at the Winter Feast. Dark Mofo whips the state into a gothic frenzy.

eager to throw off its stereotypes, desperate to confront head-on its often-hideous history. In Hobart, there was a city that had the potential to become one of Australia’s cultural hubs.

And it has certainly achieved this. The state’s calendar is peppered with cultural icons, including Agfest, Party in the Paddock, the Festival of Voices and Falls Festival (hosted in Marion Bay, which is often considered the most easy-going of the Festival’s four locations). In Tasmania you can (don’t argue with me on this) sample Australia’s best avo toast,

On the issue of the inverted crosses, I am divided. On the one hand, the crosses were an easy statement to make to rile Christian groups. I doubt that Carmichael and Walsh could have got away with so flagrantly mocking other religions in that way. On the other hand, Dark Mofo thrives on being provocative, getting people talking. As Carmichael told the ABC, provocation is ‘part of MONA’s DNA’. Surely, the purpose of art is to get people to think, to question, to consider. Maybe even to make them angry. People viewed the crosses in a host of different ways.

Whilst some were immediately offended, others noted they are reflected the correct way in the water. Hobart Pastor Kim Valentine told the ABC that, as St. Peter was crucified on an upside-down cross, maybe it was a sign of ‘humility’.

Each person experiences Dark Mofo in a personal way, draws their own conclusion. And that’s what makes it so valuable to the Tasmanian cultural scene.

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culture// Arts

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Too far for barr?

At 2.45am on the 29th May, Roseanne Barr tweeted “Muslim brotherhood and planet of the apes had a baby=vj.” The tweet was in reference to Valerie Jarrett, one of former President Obama’s closest advisers and a constant target of conspiracy theorists. Jarrett is African-American and was born in Iran to American parents. Barr’s tweet was a response to another stating that Jarrett “helped hide a lot,” referring to an unsubstantiated claim by Wikileaks that the CIA under Obama spied on French election candidates. While this tweet became the focal point for much of the media coverage surrounding the saga, it was certainly not the only controversial thing Barr tweeted that day. Another tweet, simply “Chelsea Soros Clinton” suggested that Chelsea Clinton was married to a nephew of George Soros, a billionaire Jewish philanthropist at the centre of many conspiracy theories.

Barr has tweeted and supported claims that Soros was a member of the Nazi SS and the instigator of both the Black Lives Matter Movement and the Antifa.

After public outcry, including from some of her own cast, Barr deleted the

Jarrett tweet and apologised. Later that day, the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) released a statement calling Roseanne’s twitter “abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with [their] values” and cancelling her show.

The fallout on both sides was immediate. Multiple cast members came out in support of ABC’s decision. Emma Kenney (who plays Roseanne’s granddaughter) even said that she called her manager to quit the show and was pleasantly surprised when it had been cancelled. A rep for Soros shared his disgust with Barr’s comments: Barr’s ex-husband Tom Arnold agreed.

Perhaps it was an homage to the now-jobless crew that despite controversy, Roseanne received two Emmy nominations – for multi-camera editing and supporting actress Laurie Metcalf. While CNN claimed that Roseanne might get “the last laugh,” agreement seemed to be that these nominations reflected the talent of individuals and not the nowshunned Roseanne herself. As a society, however, we perhaps have not spent time on another question – has societal condemnation of Barr gone too far?

Opinion pieces proliferated after the show’s cancellation, building on the

DISCOVER THE MAN BEHIND THE CAMERA

clickbait value of their message. People argued that despite America being under conservative leadership, it was no longer possible to be conservative on TV. But perhaps more significantly, it was said that conversations were being had on the show and around it that had value to society. These conversations couldn’t continue to occur if we simply shut the show down.

Part of the reason people have come out squarely against Barr is the almost unprecedented action by ABC. There’s an unspoken belief that, to prompt such a strong and swift response, she must have been really bad. But while we can laud ABC for being moral as much as we want, it’s likely that this wasn’t the only motivator behind the decision.

Roseanne was set to bring in serious advertising revenue for the network, but the tweets and the subsequent #cancelroseanne campaign on twitter would likely have put the millions of dollars expected in product placement at risk.

Media agencies had already expressed concern at their clients appearing alongside Roseanne, and not acting decisively would only have caused this to continue.

lesson to ABC to “believe someone the first 500 times” when they post something racist or discriminatory. And despite (or perhaps, partially, because of) these opinions, Roseanne had remained foremost in the 18-49 primetime slot since its revival. We can (and should) have conversations about how we moderate what society consumes, but if there is a market for 10 million people to watch what Roseanne is selling, it makes social and economic sense to keep it on air. So why did ABC choose the 30th May for decisive action? A combination of societal pressure and economic factors, rather than a moral stand, is the most likely explanation.

Thus while it might be convenient to see Barr as piece in the puzzle of societal change, celebrate ABC and ignore the 10 million people who watched her show before this last round of tweets, it is simply not accurate. No-one is contesting that what she said went too far. But to oversimplify and ignore the place of Roseanne in important societal conversations is equally, if not more, foolish.

This was also not the first time Roseanne had tweeted inappropriately. Twitter user Mark M noted that this was a

Photograph by Karin Catt

Text: Tabitha Malet

exhibition opens 10 Aug 2018 FREE National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliA ANU Students & Faculty Special: $2 TUESDAYS – BIGINELLI’S AT NFSA Grab a small coffee for a small price Tuesdays only | Must present Student/Faculty card Soy, almond, lactose free, syrups etc. all +0.50c

nfsa.gov.au

Culture// Reviews

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

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Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again? should go to Jessica Keenan Wynn, who has Christine Baranski’s lazy seductress act as Tanya down to a tee. While it can be frustrating having to juggle the old and young versions of both characters since you don’t get to see enough of either, all parties are similar enough that it doesn’t feel like a great loss. Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie does get the short end of the stick; having to push most of the plot along means her character seems to have less fun than the rest.

But Sophie is where the emotional heart of the film lies, and this pays off enormously in the final act.

Text: Annabel Horsburgh Graphic: Ben Lawrence

Mamma Mia 2 is by no means the best movie ever made. It is a pile of cinematic cheese wrapped in an overly saccharine sugar coating with an enormous cherry in the shape of our Lord and Saviour Cher plonked on top. It is not a traditionally brilliant movie, but it is without doubt the most fun movie I’ve seen all year. I’m an unabashed fan of all things cheese and as such might not be the best person to be writing this review. I adore the first movie – it’s my go to when I feel sad and need some good old-fashioned escapism, because there is nothing more satisfying then watching Meryl Streep dance around in overalls, looking like she’s having the time of her life. As a well-known Eurovision tragic, I will happily sing along to ABBA for hours. Throw Cher in the mix and I’m pretty much guaranteed to love this movie from the outset.

My main fear going into the film was that the lack of Queen Meryl would dial down the fun, but Lily James is more than capable of filling her almighty shoes. James is so joyous and likeable in the role that it’s entirely believable that she would have three men falling at her feet within hours of meeting her. I certainly came out of the cinema a little in love with her. All the actors portraying the younger versions of the original cast do a good job of capturing their counterparts. A special mention

There is no use skirting around the main concern with the film – it has little to no plotline. The general gist of the film can be summed up simply by saying “Sophie prepares a party to open the redesigned Bella Donna Hotel after the death of her mother and thinks about her mother’s life in the progress.” While there are other tendrils of story floating around this idea, it doesn’t stray far enough for there to be many surprises. We knew about Donna’s affairs with Bill, Harry and Sam from the first movie, and while it’s nice to see them fleshed out in more detail, nothing presented is new.

To some this may ruin the movie. I was having too much fun to notice. The musical numbers are again what cover up the lack of narrative depth, and they are just as vibrant and inventive as one could hope. There is a good mix of more obscure ABBA songs alongside reprises of hits used in the first film. All t h e

new cast members can hold their own vocally, and the returning members perform on a similar level to the first film. But most importantly, I’d like to thank whoever gave us Cher belting out Fernando. You can bet that I downloaded the soundtrack the minute I got home, and my neighbours are cursing the day Fernando was written.

But really, that’s about as far as I can get through a serious review of the elements of the film. Because technical elements and techniques are not what makes this film brilliant. What makes this film brilliant is the fact that you get to watch people just have fun for two hours, and that fun is infectious. Every time Julie Walters and Christine Baranski turned up on screen together, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. Watching Colin Firth’s terrible dad dancing is my new favourite pastime, and I instantly wanted in on every one of the young Dynamo’s choreographed dance routines. And when Queen Meryl eventually swoops in for her obligatory appearance, I was bawling in my seat, because nothing gets me more than a good Mother-Daughter bonding moment. Yes, Mamma Mia 2 is not innovative, it can be seen as a shameless cash grab, and I do not care. They can take my money. I walked out of the theatre wanting to somehow be Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski and Cher all at the same time when I grow up, and I haven’t stopped dancing to infernally catchy 70’s pop songs for 48 hours. It has been magnificent.

33

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

culture// Reviews

Incredibles 2: A Monologue Text: Alisha Nagle Graphic: Sophie Bear The incessant and unnecessary remakes seeping out of Hollywood have been making modern cinema a little bland of late. It was a relief when, among the onslaught, the one sequel that many millennials were desperately awaiting premiered. Few can deny the excellence of the original ‘The Incredibles’ film, not only due to the superlative animation style but the plot itself. It takes an immensely talented writer to create a story that appeals so strongly to children and adults alike. Such an achievement isn’t easily repeated, which seemed to be why a sequel hadn’t been in the works. Then suddenly, it was here.

My initial reaction? Too late! *Almost* 15 years too late…

However, like everyone else I was compelled by nostalgia to relive the glory days and saw the film. I was especially hopeful due to the return of Brad Bird – the genius behind the original’s writing, direction and Edna Mode’s fabulous voice acting. However, despite being artfully crafted and visually stunning, ‘The Incredibles 2’ does not live up to the original.. The story is engaging but unfortunately, predictable. This doesn’t make it a bad film – there is hardly ever a dull

moment and the cinematography of the action scenes alone is worth the price of admission. The graphics are simply mesmerising – you can even see the peach fuzz on characters’ faces in close-ups. However, the film’s plot just never approaches the emotional investment that the original achieved.

Except for baby Jack Jack’s constant comic relief the kids are relegated to the background, and nothing whatsoever helps to develop their characters

Ant-Man and the Wasp

beyond the point where we left them in the first movie. It was nice to see Elastigirl fronting the movie, but her character development is also minimal. Mr Incredible learns how to be a stay-athome dad in a humourous montage, but there are no real emotional moments that reflect the original’s fantastic character growth. ‘Incredibles 2’ is also let down by its villains who lack the devilish charm and character motivation of Syndrome. Hey, wait-

You sly dog! You got me monologuing! I can't believe it...

Text: Abigail Manning Graphic: Sophie Bear

development and some truly delightful interactions.

After ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Black Panther’ this year, it feels like Marvel movies are increasingly serious, and the heroes tasked with determining the fate of the world, or the universe.

Instead, ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ provides a refreshingly small-scale adventure. Rather than trying to draw tears from the audience, it goes for laughs, and succeeds in providing a fun and enjoyable time at the cinema.

In contrast to the often global or universal stakes of other comic book movies, director Peyton Reed, focuses on personal, human, motivations and conflicts. A daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), trying to get her mother back. A husband, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), trying to rescue his wife after 30 years spent thinking she was forever lost and blaming himself.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), trying to be a good father to his daughter and finish his term of house arrest so he can be free to spend time with her. It is these personal and relatable goals that drive the movie along, the stakes feel real and important to the characters. Even the villains operate with simple and believable purposes, from the straightforward and borderline comical gangster Sonny Burch (Walter Goggins), to the much more sympathetic Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). The smaller cast of key characters and the focus within the plot on their human motivations and goals allows for character

Anyway, despite its flaws ‘Incredibles 2’ is certainly better than the horrible cash grab of ‘Finding Dory’ (sorry), and is enjoyable so long as you don’t set expectations unfairly high.

One of the Ant-Man franchise’s strengths comes in the creativity it is able to employ in action scenes. The simple enough concepts of the size changing Ant-Man suit and shrink/ grow discs, that were employed to great effect in the first Ant-Man movie, are expanded upon and even more fully realised in this sequel. The addition of a winged suit for Hope, differing size settings in Scott’s suit, and fun devices like size changing cars and buildings allow for a huge amount of creativity and some truly hilarious comedy scenes. Rather than diving across galaxies, the movie stays within a tight setting. It draws wonder from exploring that area from both the regular and tiny perspective and delving into the psychedelic Quantum Realm.

Overall ‘Antman and the Wasp’ is a movie that knows exactly what it is trying to do. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and delivers a fun moviegoing experience. The action sequences are imaginative and an exciting twist on the typical super powered punching match. The script is witty, the actors talented, and the laughs land.

The result is a movie with small heroes, small stakes, and a big smile on my face as I watched it.

Culture// Reviews

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

34

In defence of The Handmaid’s Tale Season Two Finale Text: Miriam Sadler Graphic: Sophie Bear

From the outset I should make it clear that I am an unwilling fan of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Call it an undying commitment to Margaret Attwood’s 1985 novel and a suspicion of adaptations that extend past the original work. Call it my ‘too hip for you’ aesthetic that wants to hate what everyone is talking about. Either way, I’m always fairly grumpy about it even though I’ve watched both seasons. I’m your go-to critic. And yet, after the harsh criticism of seasons two’s recent finale in which, presented with the opportunity to escape Gilead, June stays, I find myself feeling it necessary to jump to its defence.

The twin revelations of the finale are developments for Serena Joy and June. Serena, initially one of Gilead’s most devoted wives, fears for the future of her daughter Nicole and petitions the Republic’s ruling body to allow Gilead’s daughters the opportunity to read. The fallout is, as always, brutal and sinister. Serena loses a finger, if not by the hand, then by the command of her husband. By the end of the episode, Serena is complicit in June’s escape from Gilead, allowing her to escape with her cherished daughter. The finale neatly ties up Serena’s character.

Season two has really been her season.

Whilst in the first season, she was the clear enemy, this season there has been a lot more nuance to her character. For one thing, we became privy to snippets of her pre-Gilead life, in which she was a conservative activist and, tragically, shot in the stomach for her cause rendering her unable to have the child she longs for. Moreover, she showcases new complexities in character. Brutal and righteous she sure is, but the season also offers multiple moments of warmth, weakness and even dissent culminating in her allowing June to escape with baby Nicole in the finale, the final step in an increasing recognition that Gilead will not provide a good life for her daughter.

June’s explosive decision at the end of the finale is undoubtedly season two’s most divisive choice. Presented with the chance to finally escape to Canada (which she has been trying to do for literally 22 episodes prior to this), June hands over her baby to fellow handmaid Emily, flicks up her hood and turns back, no doubt to become the caped crusader of Gilead. The audience was frustrated. Most of the headlines the next day were of the ‘what were the writers thinking’ ilk, pointing out that this wasn’t keeping in line with the June we all know and loved. Some wise male writers were in uproar that June was abandoning baby Nicole when she was still breastfeeding. Forget discrepancies in character arc, how dare June not be thinking about her breasts at a time like this? Karl Quinn writing for the Sydney Morning Herald calls it a ‘you-go-girl

moment’ that falls flat, questioning why plain old June has suddenly become a Katniss Everdeen type hero.

I disagree (and I disagree with lumping all female heroes together –- different dystopia Karl, different hero). June was always going to be our revolutionary hero. She was angry.

She was imprisoned, tortured, raped, and abused. She had two children taken away.

I don’t want to sound smug, but I always knew she’d stay. On the one hand, I very much doubt June ever considered leaving Gilead without Hannah, her firstborn.

On the other hand, June has unfinished business with Gilead. Sure, the writers are gearing up for an action-packed season three but that doesn’t really bother me. They’re on to a good thing so why stop whilst people are lapping it up?

I didn’t really want to see a season three where June is stuck in Canada, moping about Hannah and having to tell her waiting husband Luke that she loves a younger model (I’m secretly team Luke –- I mean, he waited for her).

Moreover, the finale tantalised us with a new storyline –- the underground resistance led by the Marthas. Fire-tongued Rita finally came into her own, helping June and Nicole escape. The power of this was its potential –- June has found her resistance both in the Marthas and in Commander Lawrence, who helped Emily escape. What seemed like a helpless situation has the potential to turn into a real plot to overthrow Gilead. And with previous stalwarts like Serena wavering, who knows what’s about to happen. Why wouldn’t June want a piece of that action? The bottom line is, June is our hero, and Gilead is our epicentre of action. Canada is not.

Explosive action and character arcs aside, the finale had two beautiful scenes that sum up both the power and potential of future seasons, however begrudgingly I have to say this. The first was the moment in which Nick and June were left alone with baby Nicole. A moment in which June finally tells Nick she loves him. Yes, I am concerned that June has a whole husband waiting for her back in Canada, but the scene was also a testament to everything June has in Gilead. She has Nick, she has Hannah. It was also a testament to June’s maturity over the two seasons. It was warming and it reminded the audience and June that we find love and family in the most unexpected of places.

The second scene was one of the quietest, but most heartbreaking of the series. In the previous episode Nick’s wife Eden is thrown into a swimming

pool, a dead weight attached to her, after her affair with Isaac is revealed.

That scene was as powerful as it was devastating. In the finale, it is revealed that it was her own father who reported her. It is a quiet scene, her father begs forgiveness of Commander Waterford and only June momentarily speaks in surprise. No one shouts. Nothing further is explained. The scene is left to sit.

Eden is the character through which the true insidious nature of Gilead is revealed. We knew it was the women who suffer. We knew June and her fellow handmaids were privy to unspeakable horrors. But through Eden this is revealed –- Gilead can’t save its daughters.

The righteous path won’t protect the women. Eden was just a girl. Eden was naïve and Gilead crushed her like a bug.

Eden’s father sacrificed his daughter for an idea as no doubt Commander Waterford would sacrifice Nicole, something both Serena and June realise in this episode. In Eden, we realise no woman, no matter Handmaid, Martha or Wife, stands to gain from Gilead. Eden is the fire that fuels the resistance of all the women of the Waterford house. The finale gave Eden her revenge and in that if nothing else, it was a beautiful climax to an energetic, heartbreaking season two.

35

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Culture// uni life

The double-edged sword of living off-campus OFF CAMPUS DALEY ROAD

ACTION

Text: Phoebe Lupton Graphic: Georgie Kamvissis

I am what they call a ‘townie.’ I’m a Canberran through and through and I have never set foot in a Residential Hall. This particular way of life as a student at the ANU provides me with a good set of advantages. Simply making the transition from studying at a secondary level to studying at a tertiary level was sufficiently anxiety-inducing for me. I cannot imagine how stressful it must have been for the students who had to leave their home towns, their families and their comfort zones and essentially restart their lives in an entirely unfamiliar environment on top of starting a degree. I consider myself incredibly lucky that I had my parents to guide me through this huge change in my life. Students who had to move on-campus might not have been so lucky in this way.

Getting to stay at home during my time at university has also meant that I have learnt to be an adult slowly and incrementally. Aspects of adulthood were introduced to me one at a time and only when I was ready for them. First, I agreed to wash the odd dish every once in a while. Then my mum taught me a couple of easy dinner recipes that I could cook for the family. After that, I learnt how to vacuum and take care of my cat. All of that was part of a slow-burning process, as if I were participating in a year-long program about how to adult. From what I’ve heard from some of my on-campus peers, they don’t have a year to learn these skills.

They have weeks or days. Their learning

curve is significantly steeper than mine and takes place in a completely new living situation.

I do genuinely like living off-campus. The balance between being immersed in campus culture on a regular basis and still having somewhere to go back to at the end of the day means that I don’t have as much of a risk of getting stuck inside of the ‘uni bubble’ that everyone talks about. But despite this, I believe that living off-campus – or rather, never having lived on-campus – has been detrimental in some noticeable ways.

Trying to actually get to campus can be a nightmare for me. I live in the in ner-south, which is on the other side of the city from ANU. For a number of reasons, I don’t have a driving license, meaning that I have to rely on Canberra’s slightly dodgy bus system. On a good day, it takes me half an hour to get to uni, whereas for an on-campus student, it might only take 5 minutes. But this isn’t really anything more than a mere inconvenience for me.

My main stumbling block as a result of living off-campus is that I have struggled for both of my two years here at ANU to make friends. When you’re living in a residential hall, college or lodge, you’re around people all the time. Whether you cook with them in the communal kitchen, hang out with them at Hall events or even live with them in a shared room, you are constantly interacting with people. But for me, being not just

an off-campus student, but an introverted off-campus student, has really taken a toll on my social life. Luckily, however, there are ways in which I am able to overcome this.

Being involved with Woroni for the past year as both a writer and a sub-editor has enabled me to connect with other students from all walks of life through my love of writing.

While I am not a part of Griffin Hall, ANU’s non-residential hall for off-campus students, this is great option for those in a similar situation to mine who want a few more opportunities to be part a community. If all else fails, making friends in tutorials is definitely something that happens! But I still can’t help but feel as if living on-campus would have given me a more immediate source for making friends.

Living off-campus presents somewhat of a double-edged sword. You get the comforts of living at home but can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the student body.

But right now, I am comfortable with how I’m spending my time at uni. That’s all that matters to me.

Culture// uni life

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

36

In Limbo: Being New in Semester Two O CANBERR T E A W ELC OM Text: Madeleine Sinnis Graphic: Georgie Kamvissis With semester two starting this week, you may be finding it difficult to get back into the swing of things. However, what about those who are starting University for the first time? Although Bush Week attempts to help new students integrate into University life, the semester two intake can feel as though they are in an awkward limbo – as if their University experience is out of sync with the norm. I sat down with three students who started university in semester two, 2017, to hear about their experiences and any advice they have to fellow students who are new to ANU. 1. What were the challenges of starting University/moving to a new residency in semester two?

Shannon: Starting university in semester two was exciting, as it would be for most students starting university. I can’t say I had a very difficult time but I did face a few challenges that I don’t think would have been present if I started in semester one.

Integrating into residential life was challenging. Although people were friendly, they weren’t always willing to invite you to coffee the next day. Friendship groups had already been established and the excitement I was experiencing had slightly faded for those who had already been at university for at least a semester.

It was really until the next intake of first years that I felt fully settled.

Vegnesh: I wasn’t introduced to the concept of the Resident’s Committee, nor did I have an understanding of their roles until later on. It was harder to make friends as the new students all arrived at different times, and residents who had been here since semester one had already formed friendship groups.

Trying to fit into a group that were already close friends was sometimes uncomfortable and nerve wracking.

I found that Bush Week was not as helpful as O-Week, as it didn’t have all of the essential information that new residents need to know. Instead, I had to figure these things out over time. There were also less events, and understanding the whole college system and university

took longer. Overall, it was pretty intimidating jumping into a cohort that already was familiar with one another and knew how university worked.

Marina: There were less activities in Bush Week to help meet new people, and everyone already found their good friends. There was also the trouble of trying to plan out your courses.

For example, an introductory course usually starts in semester one, so when you start in semester two, professors assume you have knowledge you don’t actually have.

2. What were the benefits of starting university/moving residencies in semester two?

Shannon: I feel that starting in semester two meant there was a lot more individual attention on your university experience, unlike semester one intake with a very large cohort. Coming in semester two allows you to get an inside perspective of uni life, and then you can come into the following year, still as a first year, ready to hop on board every opportunity.

Vegnesh: The older residents were so nice and welcoming. It was easy to ask people for help, as people already had knowledge about College life and University. It was also easy to put yourself out there and be noticed, instead of being lost in a sea of over 150 new residents.

Marina: Since there were less people around, it gave me a better opportunity to get to know everyone. Although there are also downsides to this (such as everyone already having their group of friends), the whole experience was a lot more intimate compared to starting in semester one.

3. What would your advice to those who are in a similar position and are starting university in Semester two?

Shannon: My advice would be simple - despite being half a year behind those born in the same year as you, come into your first year with enthusiasm and a confident attitude. Know that although there is a difference between the first and second semester intake, this should not alter your university experience. University is what you make of it and the outcome of your experience falls largely on you,

so try be open minded and make your time here a good experience.

Vegnesh: It takes time to get used to being a student when you start in semester two. Patience is key. Eventually, you’ll find your groove and your group of friends. Joining in semester two already makes you unique because you have a story to tell about why you joined in the second semester. You’ll get the hang of everything! Remember that although you want to step out of your comfort zone, don’t do anything that makes you feel really uncomfortable. Finally, always remember to be yourself.

Marina: Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to a group of people, even if it’s intimidating! You’re new, so this is your excuse to interrupt and join in conversations. Try not to get too disheartened when it seems like everyone already has a friendship group. You’re not alone in that feeling, just try your best, take a deep breath and put yourself in the weird situation of reaching out to others!

Shannon Viall is a first year Commerce/Design Student who started university in semester two, 2017. She calls Namibia home and currently residents at Burton and Garran Hall.

Vegnesh Ganesan is a first year Medical Science student who started university in semester two, 2017. He hails from Malaysia and is currently an International Representative at Burton and Garran Hall.

Marina Mito is a first year International Relations and Sustainability student who started university in semester two, 2017. She calls Japan home, and she currently lives at Burton and Garran Hall.

The Grant for Good: How ANU Is Attracting Mathematical Science Students

Text: Arabella Davey Graphic: Georgie Kamvissis

Recently I was lucky enough to receive the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences Relocation Grant. This has been an amazing opportunity and has enabled me to further pursue my studies within the STEM sector at the ANU. Like many students, moving to Canberra was a significant change and it was my first time living away from home. The grant facilitated my move to Canberra and allowed me to settle in, rather than worry about my financial situation. Additionally, STEM subjects usually have a high number of contact hours, meaning that it is challenging to juggle a rigorous study schedule with a part-time job. The grant has allowed me to successfully manage study and settle into Canberra.

Furthermore, the grant has allowed me to use my time to explore my passion in maths and science. I am fascinated by how science can be applied to the world around us. I also enjoy solving equations and problems, which explains my love for mathematics. One of the reasons why I chose to study the Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences is to widen my knowledge in this area, and to hopefully use these

skills in my choice of career in the future. ANU has equal opportunities for all students and I feel very fortunate to study in an area that I am excited by. With the assistance of the Relocation Grant, I can fully participate in the STEM sector at the ANU and maximise all opportunities that have been given to me.

Financial aids such as the Relocation Grant are pivotal in encouraging the next wave of STEM-enthused students to enrol in a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences. From my experience, the STEM program offered at the ANU is of an exceptional standard. Hence, it is crucial that committed students are able to pursue their passions at the ANU without any obstacles or boundaries.

I feel very fortunate and extremely grateful to have received such a grant. It has significantly helped me, just like it has assisted the other ten students who also received the grant.

CAMPUS CLASSIFIEDS the hottest upcoming events, clubs and projects on campus Which number is higher: the weight in grams of a regulation test cricket ball or Danny Devito’s height in centimetres? Know the answer? you already have a point for ANU Trivia Tuesdays if you do.

ANU Trivia is every Tuesday at 5:30pm in the Pop-Up Club. Please join us for plenty of jugs, joking around and very very serious trivia.

What’s hot in docs? Latest documentary features from around the world screening at Palace Electric in Stronger than Fiction 2 -5 August. Would you risk your life to make a movie?

Check Of Fathers and Sons. We have the hidden world of digital cleaning and the social media censors in The Cleaners, trauma therapists and migrating crabs in Island of the Hungry Ghosts, mammoth hunters & puppy cloners in Genesis 2.0, sexual intimacy explored in Touch Me Not and hobbyhorse racers in Hobbyhorse Revolution not to mention Maya/Matangi/M.I.A. delving into M.I.A.’s politics, music & family.

Full lineup & tickets -strongerdocs.com/program&palacecinemas.com.au

Are you studying history and looking to meet people doing the same? Are you interested in history, either academically or casually? Are you studying something else and want to keep up your interest in history? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then the ANU History Society is for you! Our society focuses on building social and academic connections throughout the student body, and wider history interested community. If you're interested in joining the society, you can online at anuhistsocmembership.getqpay.com or at any of our events, which you can see the information for on our social media!

discover// science

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

38

Substance of the Cosmos and Breath of the Gods Text: Ben Maclaren Graphic: Georgie Kamvissis

“It’s an energy field created by all living things.

It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." – Ben Kenobi Between the bright shining moon and the luminous blue earth, a realm of earth, fire, air and water exists. Here lies the Sublunary Sphere - the region of aether, unbounded by the laws of physics, characterised by an expanse of planets and stars.

What is the Aether?

The Origin of the Word In fiction, there are often depictions of magic that utilise four elements: earth, fire, wind and water. They are collectively known as the ‘Greek classical elements’, and were once thought of as a kind of energy that embodied all living things. However, there is also a supposed fifth element belonging to this group the ‘aether’ or ‘void’.

The word aether comes from the Homeric Greek, meaning ‘pure, fresh air’ or ‘clear sky’.

In Greek mythology, the god ‘Aether’ also embodies the pure upper air that the gods breathe.

Its Importance in Science History Aether was a component of a bygone model of the cosmos characterised by an earth centred world.

The concept arose because of light’s wave properties. In nature, most waves exist through a medium, like waves in water or sound through

air. At the time it was assumed that light waves needed a material to move through. Hence, a medium for such waves - the luminiferous aether was born.

The End of Aether Between 1887 and 1904, the existence of the aether was disproved, as a number of experiments discredited its centuries-long existence.

In 1887, Albert Michelson and Edward Morley performed the most notable failed experiment that measured aether drag. When we move through the air, we produce drag as the air in front of us is slowed down. If the earth is travelling through aether, it should produce an aether drag that slows light down. Thus, by measuring the supposed change in the speed of light, it was hypothesised that aether could be detected. In the Michelson and Morley experiment, no change was observed, providing the most accurate measure against the validity of aether.

The consensus on aether’s existence further shifted when Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity was released in 1905, which didn’t use aether to explain light movement but demonstrated that the speed of light was absolute.

To gaze upon the history of the cosmos from a 20th-century perspective, it is interesting to see how our scientific understanding has evolved. It begs the question, what will the history of science look like a hundred years from now, and what changes in thought can we expect over the next few hundred years? How ludicrous will our current scientific truths be in 2118?!

A Brief Timeline of the Aether 400 BC: Aether was first used by Aristotle in the 4th century BC, who described it as an element lighter than air that surrounds celestial bodies. In the hierarchy of elements, aether is lighter than air, air is lighter than water and water is lighter

than earth. In the view of Aristotle, each element returns to its proper place when displaced, thus explaining why air rises when earth and water fall, and why the ‘heavens’ appear to remain in place.

1704: Opticks,published by Isaac Newton in 1704, explained the properties and behaviours of light. Previously, white light was thought of as colourless. However, in OpticksNewton shows that white light is an accumulation of all colours and can be split into other colours through prisms. He introduced an “Aethereal Medium” to try and explain diffraction - the behaviour of light when bending around corners or passing through slits.

1856: By 1856, aether had gained a magical list of requirements for its existence. It had to be a fluid to fill space, millions of times more rigid than steel to support high frequencies of light waves, massless and without viscosity so it didn’t visibly affect the orbits of planets, completely transparent and incompressible.

Scientists were aware of the problems associated with aether, but the concept had become so entrenched in physical law, that scientists were not prepared to discredit it.

1887: The Michelson Michelson Morley experiment was conducted, which pointed against the existence of aether.

1905: Albert Einstein published his Theory of Special Relativity, which failed to acknowledge the existence of aether.

1925: Special Relativity had been widely accepted, and the debate on aether’s validity slowed. Up until 2003, more tests are performed, with the clear majority disproving the existence of the aether.

39

Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

discover// science

Survival Tips That Could Save Your Life… As a Woman in STEM Text: Sophie Burgess Graphic: Georgie Kamvissis There are a few situations in life where you may find yourself in survival mode. In these situations, it is crucial to act swiftly and effectively to maximise your outcomes, and so familiarising yourself with survival tips for different scenarios can go a long way. These scenarios may include getting lost in the woods, coming face-to-face with a grizzly bear in the Canberran wilderness, or being a woman-identifying student in a male-dominated STEM field.

Here’s the situation: you have just begun your first semester of engineering. Other women in your tutorials seem to be rarer than over-zealous boys who won’ttry to impress you with “I’m actually really into smart girls!”. The number of acquaintances who have feigned concern over your degree choice with responses ranging from “Wow, aren’t you ambitious!” to “Are you sure? I hear the math is like super hard...” has reached double digits.

Someone just explained your own high school physics project to you, and that guyin your computer workshop just tried for a hug after you pointed out the fatal error in his Arduino code. What do you do?

Step 1: Finding Shelter When in a foreign and unknown environment, finding shelter early is crucial to your survival.

Your own shelter may come in many different forms, ranging from a comfy pillow fort in the corner of Hancock Library to a supportive circle of like-minded peers with whom you can rant. The latter of the options, whilst immensely rewarding, can be a significant challenge when unfamiliar

with the new terrain. So, where and how does one construct such a shelter? Here are a few strategies:

If inklings of self-doubt arise, keep the following points in mind:

In your tutorials, look for others who share the same ‘dead-behind-the-eyes look’ of enthusiasm when basic scientific principles are being mansplained to them.

These individuals may also be seeking shelter, so it can often be of mutual benefit to team up against the oncoming challenges. This may be achieved by setting up an unofficial, utopian all-girls table in your MATH1115 class, or otherwise pairing up with the sole girl in your tutorial for a group assignment. Remember: you are of no obligation to spread yourselves out as the token pieces of gender diversity. You know what environment you thrive best in; find it.

Confidence does not equal competence.

You’re no less intelligent than those in class who put their hands up for every question. Especially when you’re in the minority of group, getting involved can feel incredibly daunting. Even the cleverest of us can feel uncomfortable in groups.

This does not make you any less worthy.

Go to the new student events for clubs and societies.

If you can survive an hour of smiling, nodding and having to slowly explain where exactly the city/ town you’re from is, you might find you meet others with similar interests. Especially if you’re new to Canberra, these events are fantastic opportunities to build your circle. If you’re looking to attract others in your field of study who share the same experiences as you, try using the following fun phrases in group situations: “Only 1 in 5 senior professor positions in Australia are held by women.”

“Women in STEM have to be 2.5 times more productive than their male counterparts to be viewed as equally competent.”

“The ongoing cycle of masculine culture in STEM discourages women from pursuing careers in engineering, physics, and mathematics out of fear of failure.”

Step 2: Locate (Mental) Nourishment The transition from a high school to university environment can be emotionally tolling, so it is imperative to locate sources of support. As a woman in a male-dominated STEM field, it can feel like your skills and abilities are constantly being scrutinized.

This can be greatly taxing for your self-confidence!

You’re not letting anyone down by getting an answer wrong in class.

Especially in fields such as physics, mathematics, and engineering, being the only woman-identifying student in a class can make you feel like the sole female-representative in that field. Think about this: If a man gets the wrong answer, then that one man isn’t good at math.

If a woman gets the wrong answer, then women are not good at math. This is known as the ‘burden of representation’ that is experienced by minority groups in society. This feeling of constant judgement can be incrediblyhard to shake, but don’t let it hold you back. The only person whose opinion of you that matters is you,and things do get so much betterwhen you care less about what other people think.

Step 3: Creating Fire A well-built fire can create warmth and protect you from outside conditions, while also making some people feel very uncomfortable. You can be that fire.

Speaking out and advocating for change is imperative to the creation of an accepting and encouraging environment for women in STEM. Here are some simple ways you can be a part of that change: 1. Stand up for yourself and the women around you 2. Stay informed and support groups advocating for change Remember, you are in a hugeposition to make a change. Just by being here, you are making the journey just that little bit easier for the next girl who follows the path that you are on, and for the girl after her, and the girl after her, and the girl after her… And maybe someday soon, the challenges you faced won’t even existfor girls who dream of a career in STEM. You are playing a part in making that dream a reality.

You are strong. You are smart. You can do this.

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

discover// Environment

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1/3

the plastic bag ban; can we do more?

Text: Cathy McGrane Graphic: Maddy McCusker

When I first moved to Canberra, I was faced with many challenges. In a new city, it takes time to navigate the quirks, characteristics, and novelties. The first difference I came across in Canberra was on a shopping trip to Woolworths. When I approached the checkout, I realised that unlike in Brisbane, there were no free plastic bags.

At first, the lack of free bags seemed like an inconvenience. I was often stumbling home, hauling armfuls of pans and pasta. Yet, I couldn't help but think of the absurd number of plastic bags I had used when shopping back home.

As they were freely available to me, the convenience had seemed to trump how I regarded their ecological impact.

In 2011, The Australian Capital Territory became the third Australian state to implement the plastic bag ban. This was three months after the Northern Territory and two years after South Australia.

Since the ban, the ACT government claims that plastic bag waste

reduction of plastic bags in ACT since the ban

97% of plastic bags end up in land-fill

in the ACT has been cut by one third.

The ban has received resounding public support. In a 2014 survey conducted by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, it was found that 70 percent of people agreed with the ban. From this, 65 percent of shoppers in Canberra said that it had a positive effect overall.

Recently, the rest of the country has moved to keep up. As of July 1st, all Queensland based Coles and Woolworths stores have begun to phase out disposable bags over the next twelve months. This has been alongside Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Coupled with this, is the rise of hashtag campaigns such as #banthebag which further bolstered public support.

But is the plastic bag ban enough?

The average amount of plastic waste produced by Australians between 2014 and 2015 was 107 kilograms per capita. We used around

four billion plastic bags, with approximately 97 percent of them ending up in landfills. There, a bag that was used for 5 minutes will sit for 10-100 years until it biodegrades.

During this time plastic can easily find its way into animal habitats. It can then be ingested by, strangle, or otherwise harm wildlife and the ecosystem. Each year, 100,000 marine animals and one million seabirds die due to plastic waste. While the plastic bag ban is a good start, it is but one of the many steps we should be taking in to build a healthier planet.

You can help reduce plastic waste by changing your own behaviours at home. Try using a refillable water bottle, substitute plastic straws for metal ones or use beeswax paper instead of clingwrap. For more inspiration, head online where thousands of nifty tricks await. You’ll be surprised how much you can cut down. Remember, being mindful goes a long way.

One hundred THOUSAND number of marine animals which die annually due to plastic waste

107kg plastic waste produced by the average Australian

Saving ugly Text: Cathy McGrane Graphic: Maddy McCusker in Wildlife charities love cuddly animals.

Koalas, Wombats, Bilbys. The cuter the better. It isn’t hard to coax a donation from someone when one of these critters is staring into your soul. Hell, you’d have to be a sociopath if you didn’t. But where is the love for our not so pretty friends?

I doubt that you’ve ever seen someone pose for a photo with a Gippsland Giant Earthworm. I've never heard activists screaming ‘save the phytoplankton’ at rallies either. These little guys work so much harder than a lazy, old koala though. They are also in real danger.

Recently, the Wilderness Society haslaunched the campaign ‘Save Ugly’.

Its aim is to support all life, even the ugly stuff. The campaign is calling for nationally consistent laws across Australia. They are also lobbying for an independent watchdog with 'teeth'.

Protecting these oft-forgotten animals

is crucial forAustralia's environment.

Take the Gippsland Giant Earthworm for example. Their poo is an incredible fertiliser. After decades of land clearing, Gippsland’s soil quality has been severely degraded. The earthworm’s poo helps to break down organic matter and create more fertile soil.

Changing land use has put the Gippsland Giant Earthworm at risk. More vegetation is being planted which draws moisture from the soil. The earthworm is just one example of the unsung heroes in Australia’s ecosystems.

It’s not just ugly animals that we need to protect. Ugly landscapes are also at risk. The Wilderness Society has run many successful campaigns for beautiful areas, notably the Franklin River and the Great Barrier Reef. These areas are insanely beautiful though. Would they have been as successful if they were campaigning for a swamp? Probably not.

It’s a sad reality mirrored across the world. In the U.S, rock and ice are disproportionately represented in National Parks.

Scenic, alpine vistas are what draws the crowds and revenue. It seems that barren mountains are more important than the biodiverse woods below.

We can turn it around though. Next time you’re feeling generous, don’t go for the obvious. The animals might not be the cutest and the landscapes might not be breathtaking, but they are important.

Lookout for ugly.

The southern cassowary is not very beautiful but she tries hard

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Cultural Burning Text: Georgia Clarke Graphic: Maddy McCusker Fire. It’s scary. It’s destructive and can even claim lives. In 2003, the Canberra bushfires destroyed over 164,000 hectares of bushland in the ACT, killing 19 people. For many, it is easy to view fire as a purely destructive force, but in Australia, it is crucial for the environment.

For Indigenous communities, fire has always been a part of cultural practice. Cultural burning, however, is a relatively new term in land management. It refers to the many ways Indigenous groups are connected with fire. Each community can experience this connection differently. Often though, fire is used to manage the landscape.

Fire has many practical uses in Indigenous culture. Areas were burned so travel through thick vegetation was easier. Indigenous hunters also used fire to muster game to open areas. Fire also holds significant spiritual value for Indigenous people. Ceremonies and rites of passage rely heavily on fire and smoke. All Indigenous uses of fire are underpinned by the core concept of ‘caring for country’. ‘Caring for country’ is the interconnected relationships between all elements and beings.

It has always been highly valued

by Indigenous groups. The benefits of fire for contemporary land management are only now being realised.

In the Northern Territory national

parks are co-managed with Indigenous groups. Cultural burns are often conducted at the end of the wet season to reduce the fuel load for the dry. Both the government and the Indigenous communities involved benefit. The government is able to drastically reduce the fire danger for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Indigenous people can continue caring for country.

ACT National Parks has also begun to undertake cultural burns.

Local Indigenous groups are using a burning technique called patch mosaic burning. This technique involves burning different, small patches of land. As a result, a mosaic pattern is created throughout the landscape. The environment, therefore, becomes more heterogeneous which encourages greater biodiversity.

Across Australia,cultural burning is on the rise. This is because it is such an effective management tool. Indigenous people have inhabited Australia for over 60,000 years. As such, their knowledge of Australia's environment is an invaluable resource.

We must start to move away from seeing cultural burning as a token management technique.

Instead, cultural burning should be at the forefront of Australian bushfire management. Fire is not the enemy. It is essential to the environment.

discover// business & Economics

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

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The Impact of "Fake News" on Today’s Economy Text: Surbhi Arora Graphic: Maddy McCusker Data has never been a more important and active ingredient in decisions that a typical person makes during a day. Newspapers, social media platforms and search engines are among a range of avenues that businesses source their data from. A dearth of effective data analysis on such platforms has been observed before but issues such as this rarely get the front-page coverage they deserve.

“Fake news,” a term that recently gained attention, has now proven to have substantial political and economic repercussions.

Though noted in popular media for ages, it became a widespread phenomenon after being thoroughly used in Trump’s tweets.

While there is much to debate on what exactly the concept of “fake news” entails, the ambit of the

debate curtails fake news to be a ‘falsified information’ released in the public domain.

Innumerable cases have since been widely reported globally where violence against someone or some entity was incited by such fake news. More than a dozen people were killed in India in a period of roughly two months based on hearsay circulated by popular broadcast channels. McDonalds in Malaysia had to fend off protesters after an online rumor emerged alleging that the fast food chain was in cohorts with the Zionist Jews.

Under the purview of such wide ranging political repercussions, the economic implications of fake news are often overshadowed. There is a rich and decidedly alarming history regarding manipulation of the stock market prices.

Investors depend heavily on news about corporations before deciding to invest in any company. Although various trad-

ing algorithms have in-built safeguards to exclude incorrect data from affecting the stock prices, it is not always a perfect system.

The most prime example of such a plight was when $130 billion was wiped off the US Stock Market Index after trading algorithms failed to exclude a fake tweet sent from the Associated Press’ twitter account. The hackers had sent out a tweet stating that the then US President Mr. Obama “was injured in an explosion.” Given how long it took for the stock markets to recover, the administration took key initiatives to curb counterfeit news.

The problem, however, is that the onset of a digital era brought forth a flood of information. Social media channels in turn expanded to accommodate this burst of information but they failed to build effective checks and balances in the system. There were no guidelines to discern fact from fiction and practically no safeguards to ensure cyber security of those who were at the bottom radar of digital literacy. Uneducated and overeager traders often became collateral damage in the wide circulation of uncorroborated broadcasts.

The most recent instance of an online rumour denting consumer confidence in a corporation was felt by PepsiCo. After publication of a fake quote declaring PepsiCo’s CEO’s denouncement of President-elect Trump, the company’s “brand sentiment score fell 35% below the average brand score.” The company’s shares declined by 5.21% over the course of a month even after official statements declared the quote as fraudulent.

In a high-frequency world of trading and finance, any piece of news is critical.

The problem here lies in the intrinsic assumption that any news bulletin would only be based on facts. So not only do we need proper checks and balances in the journalistic world, but also, we need to inculcate more digital-savvy consumers.

How an investor processes the information is more important than where they access the information from. The key to prevent economic failures of the market, both at the macro and micro level, is to educate a new breed of consumers who can think critically to distinguish factual data from fiction.

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

The History of Economics: Products of their time Text: Felix Ryan Graphic: Maddy McCusker As a subject, economics is generally focused on producing predictions and assessments of future outcomes. This is highly important; without such forecasts, the economic growth that established our high standard of living would have been very difficult to maintain, let alone initiate. However, the history of these economic ideas – critically the circumstances of their creation – is seldom studied widely. This can be a profound disadvantage when it comes to assess the validity of models and applying economic theories.

Such economic ideas are always the product of their time and location. Applying them blindly and without forethought to a situation can create dire results.

Illustrating the history of economic ideas is perhaps the best evidence one can give.

While many consider Adam Smith to be the father of economics, speculation on economic matters long preceded him.

Greek and later medieval philosophers, while generally uninterested in economics, did make passing references that would be considered today as the key tenants of economic theory. The Greek poet Xenophon noted the benefits of free trade between Greek city states (including peace and prosperity) while Nicole Oresme of Normandy was arguably an early monetarist (a school of economic thought that focuses on the role of money in an economy). Even the thoughts of the mercantilist era, which Smith spent most of his magnum opus (The Wealth of Nations) relentlessly refuting, introduced interest on loans, stock markets and, in several Dutch writings of the time, rudimentary demand and supply curves (that make up the fundamentals of microeconomics as every first year CBE student will know). It was a time not so economically foreign to our own; there were stock market crashes (several major downturns occurring in London and Paris in the early 1700s), the accumulation of wealth by a new “merchant” class and the rise of significant monopolies such as the East India Companies of the Western colonial powers.

This conceptual lineage heavily shaped Smith’s thinking and beliefs. In late 18thcentury, the ideas of mercantilism were persisting into an alien industrial world. The impetus was now on the manufacturer of goods rather than those who merely provided the material, as had been since time immemorial. The relics of aristocratic privilege and merchant protection had created inefficient monopolies and obsolesce that stifled growth (such as James I of England’s ‘statues of monopolies’ in 1623). Most egregious of all to Smith was the idea that nations should always maintain a positive balance of trade, importing more than they export, as a sign of economic prosperity. By demolishing these decaying policies, Smith firmly established in their place opposing concepts, including free market competition, free trade and fundamental theories of price and wage determination that set the foundation of modern economics.

The true ramifications of the industrial revolution, which Smith never saw, meant that the large, polluted factory with a huge workforce became the bedrock of the economy over the traditional agricultural sector. Goods were now being produced on a gargantuan scale and prices, wages and labour were new variables for policy makers to consider.

Consequently, disciples of Smith updated his ideas. Jean-Baptiste Say, a French industrialist, argued that supply always finds equilibrium on the demand curve, implying that goods in the market will always find buyers (known as Say’s Law).

The stockbroker David Ricardo argued, amongst other things, that Smith’s competitive market model was a self-correcting mechanism and that the rational individual preempts any government intervention (the Ricardian equivalence).

By the end of 19thcentury, these original economic concepts still permeated throughout economics; forming the foundations of a highly theoretical discipline largely removed from the workings of the everyday economy. Assumptions of the rational consumer and producer formed the basis of models used to predict market outcomes. However, the

blind appliction of these assumptions from another time and place collided violently with the most serious economic crisis of our era: The Great Depression.

Given their classical economics training, policy makers initially advocated no intervention in the economy. Following indirectly from the ideas of Ricardo and other ‘neo-classical’ economists, it was believed that the market regulated itself and this ‘panic’ would soon be over.

However, no reaction simply resulted in unbounded mass unemployment, with consumer, producer and bank panic arresting economic activity. By 1937, with the economy seeming to be heading towards another recession, policy makers firmly turned to new ideas. It was in this

atmosphere that the ideas of John Maynard Keynes took centrestage. Showing that (unlike the industrial revolution) it was possible to produce too much and have a shortage of demand, Keynes stated the government’s role in the economy to increase spending and lower taxes to make up for this demand shortfall.

Otherwise, the economy was poised to stay in this nightmarish crisis, which could easily become a new equilibrium point (contrary to Ricardo). It was only with this crisis and acceptance of the failure of the prevailing paradigm did economics begin to grow to include Keynesian economics (the birth of macroeconomics), which could tackle the economic depression in a better manner.

This history lesson is still highly relevant today. Economics, like all disciplines, is subject to being stuck in the prevailing thinking long after those ideas have expired. In 2003, Robert Lucas (1995 Nobel Laureate in Economics) claimed that macroeconomics had been perfected and that recessions were now a thing of the past. As it turned out, his classical approach to macroeconomics failed to predict the onset of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008 or provide a remedy.

One must always attempt to maintain an open mind within economics and look deeper into the ideas being used; namely their origin, history and evolution, to see their predictive power in the modern world.

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

36 hours in the blue mountains Photo Story: Sophie Bear

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

Creative

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Storybook Girl Text: Cathy McGrane Graphic: Maddy McCusker When I was young, my parents said, "You will get your wings one day, Sure, only the lucky ones do, But you have the airs, the laugh, the aura.

You will get them, they will come" I wanted to be the stuff of storybooks, A whisper of clouds to an earthbound world.

I promised myself I would never stop waiting; The moment you doubt whether you can fly, You cease forever to be able to do it.

So, I waited it out, grew up, with An extra sparkle in my eye For I knew something my classmates did not: I was one of the lucky ones.

I'll get my wings; they will come.

Birthdays became a time-traveller's treasure, Each candle extinguished more and more urgently But time expanded and I started to shrink.

Where were my wings? When would I fly?

What if they never come?

Luxury Clouds Drowning Text: Emily Dickey Graphic: Maddy McCusker dry retching – there are things that remind me – of you (still?)/ scattered across the sky / in the way the grey banks / like it could snow?

(it’s 17 degrees) and in how my / bread rips / because the butter is too hard / and I got impatient with / the toaster.

“‘families are weird”’ you tell me blowing / out your dart / directly into my mouth

(my fault for having it open)

and I KNOW / there are thousands of worm-hole openings / conversations I could start / among the clutter / of what we pick apart to hold / as our friendship

(I’m leaving tomorrow) free-held early adult / of suburban walking home with too many groceries so the plastic bags we shouldn’t have bought dig into our palms and leave fighting marks until they’re gone / is momentarily over.

It will begin again and stop Adani.

For us and more likely for others. and I guess too, we will find our own lanes/ in swimming pools in the open ocean / wonder at what made us whole / misplace that we even had grandmothers. keep drowning but forget / call it home

(this is what they now label stoic optimism)

I wanted to be the stuff of storybooks, The reason someone turns the page, But that's not the point of being lucky.

When I realised I would never be ethereal, The most beautiful feathers bloomed forth.

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Week 1, Semester 2, 2018

Creative

The Fisherman and the Syren Text: Shae Maree Nicholson Graphic: Maddy McCusker The air is cold and crisp when the Syren calls to him.

Her voice is cool, it flows along the deck and summons his feet to move, his heart to thump.

Water crashes around the ship, yet lays calm and black around her waist.

He leans closer.

What a strange thing to see in the night: Gilded locks caressing the velvet sea, a half formed smile, fully exposed breasts.

The thrum and crash of salt licked waves are silent.

The boat creaks but he does not hear.

All is held, held within her gaze.

She whispers to him and he leans close, “Come to me fisherman For you know I am lonely, Come to the water, Come to me.”

Salty scales weigh a man’s heart.

They hold him still ‘til the cloth of his pants are wet, her body wrapped securely around him.

And then under, Under, Under...

Make Light Text: Geoffrey Bonning You are a mask that a far greater face is looking through Feel the pulse of chemical energy, sensation flowing through channels of clay Your seriousness is the funniest joke in the Universe Flow Make light Return All that you fear may come to pass And utopias, joyful arrangements of beings, will also bloom in their time And then fade away Make light Even if it's only for now

Vol. 68 , Issue 07

Satire

Reasons why climate change isn't real Text: Stephanie Beer and Millicent Roper

1. I wore three layers of thermals the other day.

2. The only natural disaster we have encountered was FAKE NEWS. That’s right, the flooding of Sullivans Creek was staged. Brian Schmidt just wanted a day off to tend to his winery (#schmidtdidit). Also, Woroni was low on content and wanted to find a more interesting subject for their ‘iNvEsTigAtiVe jOurNaLisM’.

3. My room gets cold at night.

How could my room get cold if the globe is supposedly warming? Sometimes I shut my window and my room is still cold. Well, “‘scientists’,” riddle me this: iIf the earth truly is truly getting hotter, then why is my room so cold?

4. The United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement but snow still exists!

The Paris Conference was just an office Christmas party where all the world leaders could blame their crazy communist conspiracy theories on the coal

industry – an industry which has been and remains to be at the heart of the industrial revolution, slave labour and potentially the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and Indigenous land! But that reef has had its time in the sun. (Get it? Sun, like climate change.)

5. Science is fake.

Think about it – what has science been right about? The moon landing: fake.

The earth being round: fake. Vaccinations: fake. Science has been so consistently wrong that there is no way Climate Change™could be real! If it really is, God, give me a sign*. * Rising world temperatures and increase in natural disasters do not count as signs.

Sudoku by Sebastian Rossi

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